Andretti Leads Honda Effort in Monday’s Indianapolis 500 Practice

* Four Honda drivers in top-10 positions
* Qualifying set for May 17-18, 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24

As he did in the May 3 “Opening Day” test session, Marco Andretti led the way for Honda and his Andretti Autosport team in practice Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Andretti posted the fourth-fastest speed, after leading most of the session with an average of 225.184 mph, until a series of “Happy Hour” speeds from the Chip Ganassi Racing trio of Sage Karam, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan shuffled him down the speed chart.

Two more Andretti Autosport drivers, Carlos Munoz and Justin Wilson, posted the sixth and seventh-fastest speeds today, with Takuma Sato, eighth. Gabby Chaves posted the fastest speed by an Indy rookie, 12th overall. In all, 30 drivers took to the historic 2.5-mile oval on an overcast and windy day.

Practice continues through the week at Indianapolis, with qualifying to set the field of 33 starting Saturday, May 16 and concluding on Sunday, May 17. Television coverage on ABC begins at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday and 1 p.m. EDT Sunday.

Marco Andretti (#27 Andretti Autosport Honda) 4th fastest: “We got through a lot of test items on our list today. We needed to mileage out the engine and for only having one set of tires, I’m pretty pleased with where things progressed. But I think there’s still a lot of speed coming for the 27 Honda. I’ve never wanted something as badly as I want an Indy 500 win. I love this place and there is so much history and meaning here at IMS for my family. Winning at Indy would be such a huge weight off my shoulders. We’ve been close and it feels like we are knocking on the door every year. I think we are capable.”

Marco Andretti again led the way for Honda in practice Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Marco Andretti again led the way for Honda in practice Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway