On the third practice day for the historic 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward distinguished himself by recording the fastest lap. This pivotal session allowed teams to fine-tune their vehicles and assess performance ahead of the crucial qualifying rounds. While O'Ward dominated the speed charts, other prominent drivers demonstrated their capabilities, hinting at a fiercely competitive race. The day was largely uneventful in terms of on-track incidents, although a few teams encountered mechanical challenges, limiting their practice time.
Indianapolis 500 Practice Day 3 Highlights: O'Ward Tops Speed Chart
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, during the third day of practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500, Arrow McLaren's rising star, Pato O'Ward, a 27-year-old Mexican driver, achieved the quickest lap. During the six-hour session, particularly in the earlier traffic running, O'Ward pushed his vehicle to an impressive speed of 227.308 mph.
Following closely behind was the legendary four-time Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves, who secured the second-fastest time at 226.841 mph in his #06 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing. His teammates, Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist, further solidified the team's strong showing by finishing third (226.841 mph) and fourth (226.626 mph), respectively.
Alexander Rossi, driving a #20 ECR Chevrolet equipped with a new engine, claimed the fifth spot with a rapid 226.364 mph. Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Sting Ray Robb earned sixth place, while AJ Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collet made a notable impression in seventh. Romain Grosjean secured eighth position in the #18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
Veteran driver Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar Series champion and the 2008 Indy 500 victor, finished ninth. Three-time Indy 500 pole-sitter Ed Carpenter rounded out the top ten.
In the no-tow category, two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato, who led the most laps in the previous year's event, posted the fastest time at 223.828 mph in the #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. Team Penske teammates Scott McLaughlin (223.738 mph) and David Malukas (223.391 mph) followed in second and third place in this segment.
McLaughlin expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "Solid day today in qualifying trim... Overall the Chevy power feels good and the car feels in a nice spot." However, not all teams had a smooth day. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Jack Harvey completed only 16 laps due to a mechanical fuel issue, the fewest of any driver, while Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing managed only 19 laps. Despite these minor setbacks, the practice session concluded without any major on-track incidents.
The third practice day underscored the fierce competition expected at this year's Indianapolis 500. With such close speeds among the top contenders, the upcoming qualifying rounds are anticipated to be electrifying, as drivers vie for pole position. The consistent performance of established champions and the emergence of new talent promise an unforgettable race, highlighting the relentless pursuit of speed and precision in motorsport.
