Alexander Rossi was in a backup car Friday due to a crash earlier this week and is recovering from minor surgeries on his left hand and right ankle but indicated that he’s feeling good heading into Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
The 2016 Indy 500 winner sustained the injuries during Monday’s crash in Turn 2 that also involved Pato O’Ward. He was sporting crutches when he was out of the car.
The Ed Carpenter Racing driver also said the No. 20 Chevrolet will be fine for Sunday’s race in Indianapolis when he met with reporters on Friday’s “Carb Day.”
“I feel fine, it was good,” Rossi said of Friday’s practice. “It was really important that it didn’t rain today for obvious reasons, and the (No.) 20 car did an amazing job to build a car that’s just as good as the one we had.
“It never gets old. This place is magical for so many different reasons. If we can do something pretty cool on Sunday, it’ll be one heck of a story.”
Rossi drove 48 laps on Friday and his best time was 222.291 mph, 31st among the 33 drivers. He is slated to start in the No. 2 position Sunday. Defending champion Alex Palou of Spain is the polesitter and No. 3 David Malukas is also on the front row.
–O’Ward also tested his backup car for Friday’s practice and said he could feel the difference.
“Every car has its little details of how it likes certain setups and adjustments,” said O’Ward of Mexico. “I think this one, as much as it was like the other, it wasn’t. It’s a different car.
“We’re getting there, we are getting there. (The practice) obviously ended much better than it started, so we’ve found the right direction, and I think we’ve got (the car) in the window where we can work with it during the race.”
O’Ward of Arrow McLaren turned in a top lap of 224.202, 20th best on the day. He drove 58 laps.
–Two-time Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske turned in the best time of Carb Day with a 228.342 on the 11th of his 55 laps.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for Newgarden is contending from the eighth row. He is in the No. 23 starting position and the last driver to win the race from that type of pole position is Johnny Rutherford (No. 25 in 1974).
Newgarden wasn’t putting a lot of stock into Friday’s practice performance.
“It feels OK, feels all right,” the 2023 and 2024 champion said. “But today is Friday. We’ve got to be good on Sunday.
“I’m just ready to get to Sunday. Sunday is what’s going to matter with the Shell car. Team Chevy has done a great job for us this month, so I’m excited to go racing.”
–Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil is always one to watch on race day and he’s making his 26th start at the famed Brickyard.
Castroneves, who turned 51 earlier this month, was 19th with a time of 224.293 on Friday while running 70 laps.
“It feels great, this machine looks strong,” Castroneves said. “The guys did a great job.”
Castroneves’ most recent win at Indy was in 2021. He also won in 2001, 2002 and 2009.
–Field Level Media
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