Indy 500 practice update: Carpenter hits 230; rain hits IMS once again (UPDATED) - MotorSportsTalk

“Fast Friday” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway appears to have taken on two meanings this Friday, May 16:

It saw the fastest laps of the month.

It also has seen the fastest period of on-track activity from start-to-finish, with barely 20 minutes complete between the delayed start and the rain halting just before 3:30 p.m. Temperatures were only in the 50s, in-between the rain coming to IMS. Heavier rain and hail fell began just after 3:30.

In the few moments of green flag running, defending Indianapolis 500 polesitter Ed Carpenter became the first driver to set a 230-plus mph lap, at 230.522 mph in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet for his Ed Carpenter Racing team.

Per Chevrolet ace PR rep Judy Dominick, Carpenter’s best lap was tow-assisted, but his 229.1 and Helio Castroneves’ 229.8 laps did not have a tow.

But it wasn’t just 230 that was hit with the boosts turned up on the cars to help create more power.

The best lap speed of 227.166 set prior to today, from Castroneves on Thursday, was eclipsed by each of the top 17 drivers. The top 12 were all over 228 mph.

After Carpenter was Castroneves and three young Americans, Marco Andretti, JR Hildebrand and Josef Newgarden.

UPDATED, 4:20 p.m. ET: Due to the weather, track activity has concluded for the day.

Here are the times, then, from the final day of practice before qualifying:

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The IndyCar Series has re-signed NTT as its title sponsor in a multiyear agreement starting in 2024.

NTT, a global information technology and communications company based in Japan, became the series’ title sponsor before the 2019 season after starting as a sponsor of the No. 10 Dallara-Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

NTT Data (a subsidiary of parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.) will remain the official technology partner of IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

With the extension, an IndyCar spokesman said NTT would become the second-longest title sponsor in series history. The longest title sponsor was PPG from 1980-97 (under the CART sanction of the Champ Car Series).

NTT replaced Verizon, which was IndyCar’s title sponsor from 2014-18 after IZOD from 2010-13.

“NTT is an excellent partner across our enterprise with strong expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” Penske Corp. chairman and IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a release. “From Smart Venue technology at the Racing Capital of the World to the reimagined Series mobile application, NTT is transforming the fan experience in new and innovative ways. We look forward to a bright future together.”

NTT has used artificial intelligence-enabled optical detection technology at IMS to provide information to the track’s operations and security teams, helping improve fan traffic flow and safety, the track said.

“IndyCar is a great partner for NTT Data because of our shared commitment to driving innovation, increasing sustainability and delivering amazing experiences,” NTT Data CEO Kaz Nishihata said in a release. “We also appreciate how IndyCar is so diverse, with drivers from 15 different countries, and races that range from short ovals and superspeedways to road and street courses. It’s both an incredible sport and a wonderful example for our world.”

NTT also has been instrumental in helping redesign the IndyCar app and providing more race and driver data for use in NBC Sports’ broadcasts by utilizing 140 data points from every car in the field.

“NTT is fully invested in the development and growth of our sport and has already established a terrific track record in our industry with problem-solving capabilities and access to top talent and tools,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said.

Said NTT Data Services CEO Bob Pryor: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaborations that enhance and expand the fan experience for motorsports and serve as proof points for data analytics, AI, and other innovative digital technologies. For more than a century, this racing series has pioneered innovations making driving safer for everyone, and by continuing this relationship, we will accelerate the pace of innovations and new technologies, particularly related to sustainability that ultimately can benefit organizations, communities and individuals around the world.”

Starting as a Japanese telephone company, NTT grew into a $100 billion-plus tech services giant with U.S. operations based in Plano, Texas.