Indy 500 Practice Day 3: Crashes, Top Speeds & Storylines from the Brickyard

Day 3 of practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is in the books, and the drama has already begun to unfold at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thursday brought high speeds, big names at the top of the charts, and two separate incidents that have fans buzzing just over a week away from the green flag.

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Top Speeds from Thursday’s Practice

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden topped the charts with a blistering lap of 226.632 mph, staking his claim early as a favorite for this year’s pole position. Right behind him was Ganassi’s Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, at 225.457 mph, with Conor Daly rounding out the top three at 224.893 mph for Juncos Hollinger Racing.

It’s a mix of veterans and underdogs so far—exactly the kind of energy Indy thrives on.

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Kyle Larson Crashes in Turn 1

The biggest story of the day came in the morning session when Kyle Larson, running double duty between Indy and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, lost control entering Turn 1. His No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet slid up the track and made contact with the outside wall.

Thankfully, Larson walked away unharmed, but his crew will be working overtime to get the car prepped for the next session. It’s a setback for the NASCAR star turned Indy 500 rookie, but expect him to bounce back quickly.

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Takuma Sato Also Caught Out

Indy 500 two-time winner Takuma Sato also suffered a spin during Thursday's practice, spinning and regaining control in the same corner where Larson went off. Just moments before the incident, Sato recorded the fastest “no-tow” lap of the day at 232.565 mph, a strong indicator of qualifying pace.

Like Larson, Sato was uninjured, but the spin raises questions about car balance and track conditions as teams continue to dial in their setups.

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What’s Next?

With just a few more practice days before qualifying, all eyes are on how teams respond to today’s incidents. Larson and Sato’s recoveries will be closely monitored, while others will look to build on today’s momentum and get themselves into the Fast 12.