IndyCar: Kyle Kaiser tops 2019 Indianapolis 500 rookie/veteran refresher session

Part-time IndyCar driver Kyle Kaiser topped the speed chart in the rookie orientation program/veteran refresher test session for the 2019 Indianapolis 500.

Juncos Racing’s Kyle Kaiser topped the speed chart in the rookie orientation program/veteran refresher test for the sixth and most prestigious race on the 17-race 2019 IndyCar schedule, the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A total of seven drivers combined to complete 323 laps around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Speedway, Indiana in this two-hour practice session.

Kaiser recorded his top lap time of 40.2966 seconds (223.344 miles per hour) on the 48th of the 49 laps that he completed during this practice session in his #32 Chevrolet.

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Of the seven drivers who completed laps in this practice session, five are Chevrolet drivers and two are Honda drivers. Kaiser led a top four sweep by Chevrolet drivers on the speed chart in this session.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Sage Karam, Clauson Marshal Racing’s Pippa Mann and Carlin rookie Patricio O’Ward rounded out the top four on the speed chart in this practice session by finishing in second, third and fourth place in their #24 Chevrolet, #39 Chevrolet and #31 Chevrolet, respectively.

O’Ward was unable to complete even the first phase of his rookie orientation as a result of the fact that his car suffered a mechanical issue and had to be towed back to the garage after he completed only 14 laps.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Jordan King completed 82 laps, the highest total among the totals of the seven drivers who participated in this practice session, and was the higher of the two Honda drivers on the speed chart. He finished in fifth place in his #42 Honda.

Dale Coyne Racing’s James Davison and DragonSpeed rookie Ben Hanley rounded out the speed chart by finishing in sixth and seventh place in their #33 Honda and #81 Chevrolet, respectively.

Hanley completed only two phases of his rookie orientation, leaving only him and O’Ward who have not yet completed it. They have a chance to complete it over the remainder of the day in the first official practice session for the race. This session is open to all 36 drivers who are on the entry list for this race.

Here are the full results of the 2019 Indianapolis 500 rookie orientation program/veteran refresher test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Practice Results
1st – Kyle Kaiser
2nd – Sage Karam
3rd – Pippa Mann
4th – Patricio O’Ward
5th – Jordan King
6th – James Davison
7th – Ben Hanley

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The official opening practice session for the Indianapolis 500 is currently taking place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You can watch it live on NBC Sports Gold and you can follow along with it live on IndyCar RaceControl.