Inside Line: Biggest Takeaway From Indy 500 Open Test?

Today’s question: What was your biggest takeaway from the Indianapolis 500 Open Test on Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Curt Cavin: During Wednesday’s lunch break, I told a veteran crew member I’m friends with that I see five favorites to win next month’s race. “(Josef) Newgarden, (Alex) Palou, Pato O’Ward, David Malukas and with his best chance yet, Conor Daly.” Those were virtually my exact words. With an hour remaining in the test, I looked at the timing monitor, and at the top of the chart were those five drivers! OK, Newgarden, Palou and O’Ward are obvious as they have been among the best drivers of the past five years, and Malukas is now with Team Penske after finishing second last year with A.J. Foyt’s team. But Daly (photos, above and top) in the top five? Yes, I think that’s legitimate, and these two days along with his Indy record over the years are reasons to believe he has a real chance to win. So, as we sit here in late April, give me Newgarden as the most likely winner with Daly my dark horse.

Eric Smith: While testing speed charts are difficult to read too much into, my biggest takeaway was the strength of the rookies. These were the first high-speed oval laps for all three full-time rookie drivers, yet they showed impressive speed. In Wednesday’s final session, the three full-time rookies all landed inside the top 14, led by Caio Collet, who posted the fastest speed of the entire test. Only 10 rookies have won this race, but this year’s class looks as strong as any in recent memory. Jacob Abel (photo, above) was technically a rookie last year, but after failing to qualify, returns with that designation in 2026. He finished 13th overall in the test, while 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher were 17th and 20th, respectively. Kudos to all four who kept it clean and learned a lot.

Arni Sribhen: Alex Palou won everything possible at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last May. Based on his performance this week, it looks like he’s not ready to give up the oval crown this May. The reigning Indy 500 winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion (photo, above) put in a solid two days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, posting the fourth-fastest overall time of the Open Test, even though the goal for the two days was to validate ideas the team had to make their cars even better. Palou even rated his test 9.9 out of 10, meaning he knows his car will be better when Indy 500 preparations start in less than two weeks. Oh, yeah, he did it in his road course car as Chip Ganassi Racing was among the teams that chose to leave their specially prepared Indy 500 cars at the shop.

Paul Kelly: I was impressed with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Team owner Dennis Reinbold keeps a full-time staff just to prepare cars for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and that focus paid off Tuesday and Wednesday. Conor Daly was fastest Tuesday in the team’s No. 23 Chevrolet, a speed that stood up as third overall in the test. Daly also was third fastest in the busy afternoon session Wednesday, validating his Tuesday speed. Jack Harvey (photo, above) also was strong, as his No. 24 Chevy led the no-tow speeds on both days of the test. Yes, there was the blip of Harvey’s smoke-billowing mechanical problem Wednesday, but it’s better for that to happen in April than May. DRR’s cars are fast again this year, which should come as no surprise. Remember, Ryan Hunter-Reay was in the proverbial driver’s seat to contend for victory last year until he ran out of fuel on Lap 169. RHR led 48 laps last year, second only to Takuma Sato’s 51. It won’t surprise me to see either Daly or Harvey run in the top 10 and even challenge for a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy on May 24. DRR is the little team that can.