(SPEEDWAY, IN) – Rookie Caio Collet delivered a breakout performance on the final day of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test, topping the speed charts with a blistering 226.381 mph lap that set the tone for a dramatic finish to the 2-day event.
Collet, driving the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet, stunned the paddock by clocking the fastest overall speed early in Wednesday’s session. His lap, aided by a strong aerodynamic tow, surpassed the previous day’s benchmark set by Conor Daly. The rookie credited his team’s preparation and his own rapid adaptation to the Speedway’s unique demands.
Despite damp conditions delaying the start by 75 minutes, Collet quickly found pace, becoming 1 of only 2 drivers to break the 226 mph barrier during the test. Josef Newgarden, a 2-time Indy 500 winner, was the other, posting a 226.223 mph lap in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet.
RESULTS: Test Overall Speeds | Test Overall No-Tow Speeds | Wednesday AM | Wednesday PM
“No, no, never expected that,” Brazilian driver Collet said. “Obviously, the team has a good background here and has done really, really well the last couple of years, especially last year. As a rookie, I was just trying to learn things and see how everything went. But the team, they did a really good job and got me up to speed quickly, and I got really comfortable.
“Obviously, a lot of things I still have to learn, especially in traffic. I have to understand how to manage traffic and how to get by people. But I think by myself I felt really good, and the team gave me a really good car both days.”
Newgarden continued to show strong form, leading the afternoon session with a 225.617 mph run and expressing confidence in Team Penske’s preparation for next month’s race. Reigning Indy 500 champion Alex Palou also impressed, finishing third overall with a 225.272 mph lap in his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Two-time “500” runner-up Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was 4th, while 2-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato in the No. 75 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda rounded out the top five, keeping the competition tight among seasoned contenders
Jack Harvey once again dominated the no-tow speed charts, posting a solo lap of 221.112 mph—faster than his own leading no-tow time from the previous day. However, his afternoon ended abruptly when his No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet erupted in smoke between Turns 3 and 4, forcing him to retire early due to a mechanical issue.
Aside from Harvey’s incident, the final day ran relatively smoothly, with only minor interruptions, including a brief caution for a fox crossing the track.
“I had a little bit of a hesitation on the exit of (Turn) 3 and just looked down and saw the smoke immediately,” Harvey said. “I’ve had engines that have had issues here in the past, and when it happens it’s normally very obvious. What happened then wasn’t.
“Not how we wanted to end the day, but I still think overall it’s been a pretty productive test.”
With the Month of May fast approaching, the final day of testing offered a preview of the speed and strategy teams will bring into qualifying and race week. Collet’s unexpected rise adds intrigue to the rookie storyline, while veterans like Newgarden and Palou appear poised for another strong showing.
The test also highlighted Chevrolet’s strength, with multiple Chevy-powered cars topping both tow and no-tow charts across the two days.