Ninety minutes was all that was necessary for three first-year Indianapolis 500 competitors to complete the three phases of the Rookie Orientation Program on Opening Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"We really economized," Tristan Vautier joked.
Vautier, driving the No. 55 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, joined AJ Allmendinger and Carlos Munoz in breezing through the session that split full field practice. They were then cleared to join veterans on the 2.5-mile oval for practice building up to Pole Day qualifying on May 18.
Sixteen driver/car combinations turned laps, including three-time Indianapolis 500 Mile Race champion Helio Castroneves setting up Allmendinger's car. Ed Carpenter, winner of the last IZOD IndyCar Series race on a superspeedway, topped the speed chart with a lap of 220.970 mph (40.7296 seconds).
The Rookie Orientation Program is designed to provide first-year drivers an opportunity to get acquainted with the racetrack. The three speed phases, set by INDYCAR based on the weather and track conditions, include 10 laps at 200-205 mph, 15 laps at 205-209 mph and 15 laps at 210 mph-plus.
INDYCAR driver stewards Arie Luyendyk and Johnny Unser also monitor car control, placement and a consistent driving pattern. The program is an invaluable asset, even to individuals who previously have competed on the racetrack.
Conor Daly is expected to begin the process May 13 in the No. 41 ABC Supply car for A.J. Foyt Racing. Daly had weekend racing commitments in Barcelona, Spain, where he finished third May 11 in the first of two GP3 races.
"It's a busy weekend for me in Barcelona, but the INDYCAR guys have been really good to us in saying we can do it Monday," Daly said. "It's unfortunate that I'll miss the first two days but it's still a lot of track time. I'm just excited to get to work."
Carpenter recorded 21 laps in the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka car. Josef Newgarden, driving the No. 21T Century 21 car for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, was second quick (220.920 mph; 40.7387 seconds) on a field-high 59 laps and Munoz cranked out a best lap of 220.720 mph in the waning minutes of practice.
Charlie Kimball was fourth (220.633; 40.7917) in the No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing entry and 2011 Indy 500 pole sitter Alex Tagliani kicked off practice fifth overall with a best lap of 220.248 mph in the No. 98 Barracuda Racing car.
DAY 1 NOTEBOOK:
This is the 47th edition of the Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report, which was first distributed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1967. As stated on the first page of the 1967 DTR: "This press information has been compiled as an added source of your information in your coverage of the '500.' It is our sincere wish that it will be of assistance in your assignment."
