Reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou led the final practice before PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Saturday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Palou’s top speed was 232.727 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in a one-hour session divided into two groups. Heavy morning fog forced a 30-minute delay to the start of the session, but bright sunshine burned off the cloud cover over the 2.5-mile oval.
SEE: Practice Results | Qualifying Procedure | Qualifying Order
Just nine drivers combined to turn 100 laps. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying takes place from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. ET (Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network) today. Positions 13-30 in the starting field will be set, with the Last Row Shootout, Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six qualifying sessions Sunday afternoon deciding the rest of the 33-car starting grid.
Rookie Linus Lundqvist continued his rebound from a crash Thursday in practice by ending up second on the speed chart at 232.525 in the No. 8 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Lundqvist’s lap was quickest on the “no-tow” chart among drivers that didn’t receive an aerodynamic tow.
Fellow rookie Marcus Armstrong helped Chip Ganassi Racing sweep the top three spots in the session, as he was third at 232.416 in the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
The 108th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26 (11 a.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, Universo, INDYCAR Radio Network).