INDIANAPOLIS — After completing his Rookie Orientation Program during Tuesday’s (April 28) Open Test running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Caio Collet turned the fastest lap during Wednesday’s on-track sessions.
The No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet went around the 2.5-mile oval at a speed of 226.381 mph during the morning session. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was second fastest in the morning, then jumped to fastest in the afternoon session with a best lap of 225.617 mph.
Collet did more laps than any other driver across both days with 227 laps, or 567.5 miles.
Conor Daly was third fastest in the morning session ahead of David Malukas and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato. Daly was also third fastest in the afternoon session ahead of Pato O’Ward and Sato.
There were only two yellow flags that were not for track inspections during Wednesday’s running. A fox found its way on the track in turn 1 and the safety team had to go chase it down. The fox managed to exit the track unscathed, at least for now.
The other yellow flag was for a mechanical failure on Jack Harvey‘s No. 24 Dreyer and Reinbold Racing Chevrolet. As the British racer was driving through the north short chute between turns 3 and 4, the car began trailing smoke. As Harvey drove through turn 4, the car began billowing significant smoke from the rear of the car, signifying an engine failure.
Harvey brought the car to pit road without incident.
“I had a little bit of a hesitation on the exit of (turn) 3, and honestly just looked down, looked in the mirrors and saw the smoke immediately,” Harvey said to IndyCar pit reporter Georgia Henneberry. “I mean, I’ve had engines that have had issues here in the past, and when it happens it’s normally very obvious. Where what happened then wasn’t, but the amount of smoke we were getting and a few flickering flames as we kind of coasted in.
“Not how we wanted to end the day, but I still think overall it’s been a pretty productive test and we’re going to miss out on a little bit of race running, but luckily we get plenty days of practice up to the 500.”
Harvey also led the non-tow speed chart across both test days with a fastest non-tow-assisted lap of 221.112 mph.
Christopher DeHarde has covered IndyCar racing and the Road to Indy for various outlets since 2014. In addition to open wheel racing, DeHarde has also covered IMSA and various short track racing events around Indiana. Originally from New Orleans, DeHarde moved to the Indianapolis area in 2017 to further pursue a career as a motorsports writer.