Overview
- Palou returned with about 15 minutes left Tuesday and clocked a 225.937 mph lap to lead Practice 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- He had reported a rear “clunk” early in the session, prompting Chip Ganassi Racing to inspect the gearbox and springs, which he later characterized as a balance issue rather than a failure.
- Marcus Armstrong led most of the six‑hour run before ending second at 225.895 mph, with Conor Daly third at 225.838 mph.
- Kyle Kirkwood posted the fastest no‑tow (single‑car) speed at 222.062 mph, a key qualifying indicator that put teammate Will Power next at 221.455.
- The opening day ran incident‑free as all 33 drivers turned laps and logged 1,996 total circuits, giving teams a clean baseline to refine setups before cooler, changeable conditions later in the week.