The two-day Indy 500 open test was held from April 23 to April 24, 2025, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, serving as a crucial preparation period for drivers and teams ahead of the prestigious race. The first day of testing was relatively smooth for most participants, with only a minor incident involving Graham Rahal, who brushed the barrier and damaged his rear right suspension. However, the second day, particularly during the boost session designed to simulate qualifying conditions, saw several significant setbacks for some drivers, including crashes that prevented them from participating in the afternoon open session.

Scott McLaughlin, the 2024 Indy 500 pole sitter, recorded the fastest lap time over the two-day session, closely followed by Takuma Sato and Will Power. Last year’s winner, Josef Newgarden, posted the ninth fastest qualifying lap time during the test.

Among those who faced major difficulties were three notable drivers:

3 Nolan Siegel

Nolan Siegel, who made his Indy 500 debut last year with Dale Coyne Racing but failed to qualify for the race, viewed the 2025 open test as vital for his progress with Arrow McLaren. Unfortunately, Siegel struggled with pace throughout both days and seemed disconnected from the car’s performance. On the first day, he was the fourth slowest driver, only ahead of Callum Ilott, Rinus VeeKay, and rookie Jacob Abel. His fortunes worsened on the second day during the boost session, where he posted the slowest time, finishing last on the timing sheets.

2 Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, returned to IndyCar for the 2025 Indy 500 after a disappointing 2024 race. While his first day at the test went smoothly, the second day proved disastrous. During the qualifying simulation laps, Larson lost control exiting Turn 1, crashing into the barrier and breaking his front right suspension. The damage left his car without steering, causing him to slam into the wall at Turn 2. Fortunately, the cockpit remained intact, and Larson was unharmed, but the crash prevented him from participating in the second session of the day, causing him to miss valuable track time.

1 Takuma Sato

Former Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato was one of the standout performers during the boost session on the second day, posting blazing lap times early on. However, shortly after beginning the session, Sato lost control exiting Turn 1, causing the rear of his car to slide out. He collided heavily with the barrier, damaging the rear left end of the car and bringing his run to an abrupt halt. The crash caused significant damage to the car, likely requiring Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to prepare a new chassis for him. Sato also missed out on further track time in the open session later that day. Observers noted that Sato appeared unsettled after the accident and was seen holding his right arm upon exiting the vehicle, though no serious injuries were reported.

Overall, the open test highlighted both the competitive pace of some drivers and the challenges others faced in adapting to the demanding conditions of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The boost session on day two, simulating qualifying speeds, proved especially challenging, leading to crashes and setbacks for key contenders. Despite these issues, Scott McLaughlin’s fastest lap time and strong performances by other top drivers set the stage for an exciting Indy 500 race.

This test was an important step for teams and drivers to fine-tune their setups, with Honda-powered cars showing strong pace and some teams like Andretti Global and Meyer Shank Racing placing multiple cars in the top ten during earlier sessions. The test also saw a high volume of laps completed, with rookies like Robert Shwartzman gaining valuable oval experience.

In summary, while the first day of the 2025 Indy 500 open test was largely incident-free, the second day’s boost session caused major setbacks for Nolan Siegel, Kyle Larson, and Takuma Sato, all of whom suffered crashes or poor performance that could impact their preparations for the race.