Andretti drivers cautious about impressive first day

Both Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay advised caution when looking at the time sheets, which saw Andretti lead Carlos Munoz, Ryan Hunter-Reay, rookie Alexander Rossi and in sixth place, one-off Indy specialist Townsend Bell. Andretti hinted that the gloomy forecast for the week ahead had caused the team to show their hand early, and he suspected rival outfits had not yet done so.

“As a team, because of weather, we kind of accelerated our program and moved some things forward that we had planned for the end of the week. I think that's why we look pretty stout right now. By Fast Friday you'll see things where they really pan out across the field.

“I'm pretty happy with the behavior of the Snapple car but there's some work to do still. The thing about this track is, you can be on top one day and then have to completely start over the next."

Hunter-Reay, meanwhile, advised that today’s increasingly overcast conditions had been ideal, although he was pleased with the car’s handling in dirty air.

"I think the No. 28 DHL Honda was one of the best cars in traffic, if not the best out there,” said the 2014 Indy 500 winner. “I was pretty happy with it.

“[But] this is about as good conditions as it's going to get and we need to be prepared for worse conditions and for when the full field settles in."

Munoz stunned the IndyCar establishment back in 2013 when, as an Indy Lights driver, he had a one-off deal with Andretti Autosport for the 500, and qualified and finished second. Since then he has become an IndyCar race winner (Detroit 1, 2015), and added a fourth place in the 2014 Indy 500.

Today the Colombian declared: “I'm excited it's the first day of 500. All of the cars from the teammates had around the same speeds, but today is the first day – there is still a long way to go. We still have a lot of things to try.

“I think it is good that we start the week with good pace in the United Fiber & Data car. Compared to last year, I know for sure we have made a big improvement. It is too early to talk but the car feels good, we still have some work to do."  

The rookie and the refresher

For NBC Sports commentator Townsend Bell, who is again sponsored by Robert Graham but also California Pizza Kitchen, the day was satisfactory from the moment he aced the Refresher/Rookie practice, topping it by 3.6mph. The San Francisco-born Indy 500 specialist has a best result of fourth (2009) in the Indy 500, but should have finished second in 2014 until wrecking in the final dozen laps.

Bell said: “We are settling in – it's still early – but I'm getting to know the guys and I'm pleased with the direction we are heading in. We'll see how things continue to progress throughout the week, but I think we're going to have a competitive May."

Rossi, hot off the most impressive display of his nascent IndyCar career at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, was fastest of the rookies in the ROP session, and clocked a 226mph lap in practice.

“This morning was definitely eye-opening in terms of not having any kind of prior comparison to a place like this,” he admitted. “I was glad we got through ROP without any real issues and this afternoon we got to work and I think it was a very good day for the team in general.

“I think the biggest thing for me is the group running and getting comfortable with that. That was another new experience for me this afternoon. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the week and settling in with the track."  

Andretti insists, “It’s too early to read into things”

Marco Andretti, who set his fastest time of 228.978mph while enjoying a slipstreaming battle with Munoz, stated later: “It’s too early to read into things.

“We got going pretty good in a group run, but today [61 degF] was a picture-perfect conditions day and next week is going to be 83 or 84 degrees and that changes the game completely, so you can’t read into this day pretty much at all.”

Asked if he thought Chevrolet was still sandbagging, as he stated following the domed skid test at IMS at April last month, Andretti stated: “Can I plead the fifth on this one? I copped too much the last time I talked about this!

“All I’ll say,” he continued, “is that I think we’ll see how things will play out in a couple of days.”