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Conor Daly Sets Fastest Indy 500 Practice Lap ?

5/14/2026

Summary

Conor Daly Sets Fastest

Conor Daly set fastest lap in second Indy 500 practice on Wednesday, 39.45 seconds at 228.080 mph.
Alex Palou was second fastest with 39.46 seconds at 228.026 mph and recorded a top trap speed of 237.220 mph.
Cool, overcast weather with 17-21 °C temperatures contributed to the fast times.
Drivers will practice Thursday, receive a turbo boost Friday, and run four-lap qualifying Saturday and Sunday before the May 24 race.

Summary

**Arrow McLaren Accelerates**

Arrow McLaren's one-off entries, including Graham Rahal, posted competitive times in the second practice session.
Ryan Hunter-Reay helped teammate Pato O’Ward improve his pace during that session.
Carson Hocevar took part in the practice run, adding depth despite not being a regular IndyCar driver.
Broadcast analysts reported strong TV ratings for the recent Sonoma Grand Prix.
Team strategists said Arrow McLaren's data sharing across drivers could influence Saturday qualifying.

Summary

Palou Leads Practice

Alex Palou led Practice 2 with 118 laps.
Near the session’s end, Alexander Rossi’s team performed an engine change, sending the car to the garage.
The six-hour practice run remained incident-free, reporting only minor issues and no on-track accidents.
Conor Daly posted a 228.080 mph tow-assisted lap while Pato O’Ward recorded the fastest untowed speed at 221.409 mph.
A third practice session begins Friday at 3 a.m. AEST with turbo-boost testing and weekend qualifying.

History

Historical Context

The mid-1970s debut of the turbo-charged Cosworth DFX, which began winning the Indy 500 from 1978 onward, sparked a speed boom. After turbochargers vanished in 1997, IndyCar re-introduced them for the 2012 season, setting boost at 140 kPa. Today, Arrow McLaren’s Conor Daly and Alex Palou chase 228-mph laps on the oval for the upcoming race in practice.

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Conor Daly Sets Fastest

Conor Daly set fastest lap in second Indy 500 practice on Wednesday, 39.45 seconds at 228.080 mph.
Alex Palou was second fastest with 39.46 seconds at 228.026 mph and recorded a top trap speed of 237.220 mph.
Cool, overcast weather with 17-21 °C temperatures contributed to the fast times.
Drivers will practice Thursday, receive a turbo boost Friday, and run four-lap qualifying Saturday and Sunday before the May 24 race.

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