indianapolis 500 update: Practice days 1 & 2
Day 1
Preparation for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge has officially begun. Juncos Hollinger Racing drivers Rinus VeeKay and Sting Ray Robb opened practice for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Tuesday, posting 152 laps around the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
VeeKay and the No. 76 JHR-DRR-Wedbush Chevrolet completed 82 laps, while teammate Sting Ray Robb and the No. 77 JHR-Goodheart Chevrolet logged 70 laps. The pair fulfilled their respective run plans for the day, which included light qualifying simulations in the early afternoon followed by pack running to end the day. Having set a strong foundation, both drivers looked forward to Day 2.
Day 2
Gusting winds, partly cloudy skies, and cooler ambient temperatures helped set the stage for a faster Day 2. The Juncos Hollinger Racing drivers completed a total of 330 miles around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. VeeKay and the No. 76 team ran 88 laps as they completed the day’s full run plan. Robb and the No. 77 team honed the car’s balance across their 44 laps.
With cooler conditions driving up speeds throughout the 33-car field, the No. 76 finished the day 15th overall at 225.091 mph, while the No. 77 ended the session 20th and recording 224.272 mph.
Driver Perspectives
Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 JHR-DRR-Wedbush Chevrolet: “We’ve had a really productive two days at IMS. We worked through our full program, from qualifying simulations and balance checks, to verifying tools and running in traffic late in the afternoon. The car felt strong throughout, especially in traffic where I was able to follow closely and move through the pack comfortably, which is always a good sign here. We’ve got a solid foundation, but still feel like there’s more pace to unlock as the week goes on. But I think we’re in a good place, and I’m feeling confident and excited for what’s ahead.”
Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 JHR-Goodheart Chevrolet: “Overall, it’s been a productive couple of days. The balance was definitely better today after some good overnight changes, so I think both cars are in a solid spot for qualifying pace already. I would still like some more experience in deep traffic running, though, because the car feels a little different this year and we’re continuing to work through that. Unfortunately we fell out of sync with the rest of the field a bit today which made it hard to continue dialing in the qualifying setup. But credit to the crew. They’ve done a great job, no mistakes, just working through the process and continuing to build. We’ll keep comparing notes between both cars, keep improving the setup, and hopefully get more quality traffic runs as the week goes on. That’s the biggest key here, staying in sync with the track conditions and continuing to build toward race day.”