{"id":14530,"date":"2023-05-19T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T12:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=14530"},"modified":"2023-08-27T08:13:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-27T12:13:08","slug":"indycar-two-straight-days-of-ganassi-success-at-indy-500-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2023\/05\/19\/indycar-two-straight-days-of-ganassi-success-at-indy-500-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"IndyCar: Two Straight Days Of Ganassi Success at Indy 500 Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the first two days of official practice for the 107th running of The Indianapolis 500<\/strong> are any indication, Chip Ganassi Racing looks locked, loaded, and ready to go.<\/h3>\n

Wednesday, it was Takuma Sato<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0who found himself at the top of the speed charts after a six-hour practice session. Thursday, it was yet again another CGR entry this time though it was reigning Indianapolis 500 champion\u00a0Marcus Ericsson<\/strong><\/a> in his No. 8 Honda looking like a threat to win this year’s race.<\/p>\n

Ericsson, who ran a total of 87 laps, charged to first during yesterday’s practice session with his 20th lap, registering at 229. 607 MPH on the 2.5-mile oval, which held up for the remainder of the practice session. Ericsson’s lap was the fastest lap run so far during the first two days of on-track activities. Along with the quickest lap Thursday, Ericsson turned the best “no-tow” speed of the day at 224.414 MPH. He outpaced fellow CGR teammate and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon<\/strong><\/a> in the No. 9, who finished P2 at 229.186 MPH, giving CGR a 1-2 finish for the second straight day.<\/p>\n

\u201cA really good day for the whole Chip Ganassi team,\u201d Ericsson said. \u201cYesterday we worked a lot on the race cars. We were good straight away. Then today we built on that.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we did some changes overnight that helped me in my feeling in the car. Felt really happy with my race car. The organization has done a really good job again this year, with really good cars.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

2019 Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0ran his quickest lap of the day at 228.681 MPH, checking in at P3. Next was the lone Chevrolet entry to crack the top five, 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner and defending series champion Will Power<\/strong><\/a>with a lap of 228.577 MPH putting him fourth. Power also was 2nd fastest on the “no-tow” list with a lap of 224.283 MPH. Rounding out the top five was Andretti Autosport’s\u00a0Colton Herta<\/strong><\/a> in the No. 28 at 228.240 MPH.<\/p>\n

\n

A scary close call for Pato O'Ward and R.C. Enerson. \ud83d\ude33 #Indy500<\/a> practice on @peacock<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/TFjHAI304j<\/a><\/p>\n

— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 18, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n