Andretti Leads Honda 1-2-3-4 as Indianapolis 500 Practice Begins

• Marco Andretti and teammates sweep Opening Day for Indy 500 preparation
• Alexander Rossi runs fourth, leads rookie field
• Seven Honda drivers, three Honda teams in top 10

Marco Andretti led the way for Honda and his Andretti Autosport team in Opening Day practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Monday in preparation for the 100^th running of the Indianapolis 500. In a day of fast speeds at the “Brickyard”, Andretti led a 1-2-3-4 sweep for Honda on the day, with his Andretti Autosport teammates Carlos Munoz, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi rounding out the top four positions on the speed chart.

Townsend Bell, in a fifth Andretti Autosport entry, Graham Rahal of Rahal Lanigan Racing and Dale Coyne Racing’s Bryan Clauson also posted top 10 efforts on the day. Speeds increased dramatically under nearly ideal conditions during the final hour of the day-long practice, as drivers took advantage of the large number of cars on track to draft one another for a fast lap. All 33 driver/team combinations took to the famed 2.5-mile oval for at least a portion of the day’s activities, and Rossi led the five-driver rookie contingent.

Marco Andretti (#27 Andretti Autosport Honda) fastest in Indy 500 Opening Day Practice: “Definitely a good start for the entire team. With the weather [forecast] we moved some of our [practice] plans up a few days. I definitely know how this month goes, it’s a roller coaster, but this was a good first day. These were picture-perfect conditions today. Next week will likely be warmer, so it’s too early to read much into things today. I think we’ll see more of the way things will play out in the next several days. As always in Indy car, ther10-15, or more, potential winners in the field here.”