Team Penske Continues Preparation for the Indy 500

May 14, 2012


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 13, 2012) – Team Penske concluded another busy day of practice Sunday in preparation for the 96th Indianapolis 500.

The team’s three drivers recorded a total of 107 laps during the second day of practice for the race.

Ryan Briscoe led the way among his Team Penske teammates with a lap of 217.987 mph in the No. 2 IZOD Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet, the fastest lap recorded so far by the team’s three drivers. It ranked 15th among 33 cars participating in Sunday’s Mother's Day six-hour session.

"The No. 2 IZOD crew continue to do a great job pulling more power out of the car,” said Briscoe. “Obviously we still need to get more, but I'm confident that come race day we will have the car we need. Today was a good day to build on leading into tomorrow."

IZOD IndyCar Series points leader Will Power had a fast lap of 217.762 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet, which completed 41 laps on the day. The Australian’s speed resulted in the 17th-best lap of the session.

"The Verizon car was good today. This was the best track you'll get as far as conditions go,” said Power. “We will take what we learned today and use it to get better tomorrow."

Three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves was clocked at 216.961 mph in the No. 3 Shell V-Power Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet during the third of his 26 laps Sunday. That time ranked 22nd-fastest of the day.

"Today wasn't much different than yesterday and we will continue to work on the Shell Pennzoil car to make small changes as we go,” said Castroneves. “The track changed a little with the wind today so that was good to see. We will keeping learning a little bit every day to get better."

Team Penske is the most successful team in the history of the famous race, having won it 15 times, including five times in the last 11 years. This season, Power has won three consecutive IndyCar races to lead the series entering the Indy 500.

Practice resumes Monday and continues each day next week before Saturday’s Pole Day qualifying, which begins at 11 a.m. ET on May 19.

Live coverage of the 96th Indianapolis 500 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 27 on ABC-TV.

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