SPEEDWAY, Ind. — With the turbocharger boost increased to qualifying levels, Colton Herta was the quickest car on Fast Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the 108th Indianapolis 500.

The No. 26 Andretti Global Honda set a fastest lap of 234.974 mph. That lap was tow-assisted. On the non-tow speed chart, Herta was 10th fastest at 233.084 mph.

IndyCar defines a lap to be assisted by a car disturbing the air in front of them with a tow if a lap is completed within 10 seconds of another car on track.

“Seemed to be lacking a little bit of speed I think on our own,” Herta said. “Obviously the fast lap was a tow lap. Nice to be quickest, but doesn’t really mean much for qualifying. I think we have a little bit of speed to find, unfortunately, but I think there’s a chance if we do everything right, we should be able to make the Fast 12.”

NASCAR Cup Series racer Kyle Larson was second fastest in his No. 17 Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Chevrolet with a tow-assisted lap of 234.271 mph. Larson was 15th fastest on the non-tow chart at 232.695 mph.

“Today went a lot smoother,” Larson said. “Just more so as planned. Where yesterday did not. I thought with the weather being — the forecast being good, I would get lots of laps, but did not. Was pretty frustrated with things yesterday.

“Yeah, it all went smooth and was good to just get some reps with the boost and feeling all that. Yeah, happy with how it all went.”

Larson’s car needed to have the engine changed, which kept the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion in Gasoline Alley for much of the day.

Josef Newgarden was third fastest on the speed chart at 234.260 mph and that lap was the fastest lap on the non-tow speed chart. Newgarden is the defending Indianapolis 500 winner.

“It’s always interesting to see how this shapes up,” Newgarden said. “Friday is one deal, and then tomorrow is going to be where it really comes together and you’re going to see where the field truly stacks up. But I think today is a good indicator, and we feel like we’re in a decent spot. We’re definitely in the mix, which is great to see. We’ve been working the last four years to try and get back into the mix in qualifying.

“Really proud of the team. I think they’ve built fast cars. That’s what happens when you’re quick in qualifying here. It’s about a team effort and building fast cars. It doesn’t matter how good you are. You can’t will the car faster through ability. It is a team effort at Indianapolis.”

Nolan Siegel had the only accident of the day as the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda spun exiting turn 2. The car hit the outside retaining wall and turned upside down, landing on the roll hoop and the left sidepod about halfway down the back straight. Siegel was seen and released from the medical center.

“I had one snap of oversteer in the middle that I caught and then turned back in and spun and I’m not exactly sure why,” Siegel said. “Disappointed, feel bad for the team that’s been working so hard for so long for this and just kind of threw it away. So not at all happy about that one but we’ll move forward and see if we can get back out and qualify for the race tomorrow.”

After qualifying ended, each Indianapolis 500 entry drew their position in the qualifying order. Entrants were called up one-by-one in the order of their position on the Fast Friday speed chart.

Kyle Kirkwood was the eighth driver to draw a spot in the qualifying order and he drew the first coin, so he will be the first driver to qualify on Saturday.

The qualifying order for the 108th Indianapolis 500:

Following a practice session from 8:30-9:30 a.m. ET, qualifying will begin at 11 a.m. and will go until 5:50 p.m. with the broadcast ending 10 minutes later.

All on-track sessions will air live on Peacock.

The 2024 Indianapolis 500 is coming soon. The drivers from the IndyCar Series will seek auto racing’s greatest prize at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Here’s what fans should know, including the race date and time, how to get tickets, who won last year’s race, what’s happening at the track throughout May, and much more. More details will be available as the race nears.

When is the Indy 500?

The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, 2024.

What is the Indy 500 start time?

The green flag is scheduled to drop at 12:45 p.m. ET on May 26. But there’s a lot happening on the track before the race begins.

Indy 500 tickets

Here’s what seats are available at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Officials report that just a few seats remain.

What is the Indy 500 race day schedule?

Tickets start at $50

Public gates open at 6 a.m., and there is a celebrity red carpet, prerace on-track activity and the infield Snake Pit concert.

When is Carb Day at IMS for the Indy 500?

Tickets start at $45

Friday, May 24: Gates open 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; practice is 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; pit stop contest is 2:30-4 p.m. George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Gin Blossoms and Kid Quill are playing the Carb Day concert starting at 4 p.m.

When is Legends Day at IMS for the Indy 500?

Tickets start at $20

Saturday, May 25: Gates open 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; full-field autograph session 9-10 a.m.; public drivers’ meeting 10:30-11 a.m. Riley Green will headline a downtown concert at Everwise Amphitheater in White River State Park that evening.

Why is the Indy 500 so famous?

The Indy 500 quickly caught on after its inaugural race in 1911 as a way to test drivers, engineers and cars, which had been under mass productions for just a few years. French auto maker Peugeot joined several U.S. companies by entering cars starting in 1913, and members of the Chevrolet came from Switzerland, founded a car company and won the race in 1920. It has been a destination race since.

How many laps is the Indy 500?

200 laps on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. The track is flat on the straightaways, with gentle 9.2-degree banking in its four turns.

How much does it cost to enter the Indy 500?

In 2024, there are 27 full-time IndyCar Series cars that require up to $10 million to run for a full season. For cars competing only in the Indy 500, it’s believed the cost to in the $1 million-$2 million range.

Is the Indy 500 sold out? How do I get Indy 500 tickets?

Indy 500 tickets for 2024 are available here. The Speedway doesn’t reveal attendance figures, but in recent years the crowd has been estimated at 300,000, though a complete sellout is rare.

Indianapolis 500 winners

75 drivers from 12 nations, representing five continents, have claimed race wins. Josef Newgarden of the United States won in 2023. The full list of race winners is here.

Indianapolis 500 milk

Indy 500 winners drink milk. Louis Meyer did so first in 1936, asking for buttermilk after crossing the finish line in steamy conditions. Drivers celebrated with milk intermittently until the mid 1950s, when milk producers became a race sponsor. A gulp from a bottle and a large pour over the winner’s head have been a tradition since.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum

The museum, located inside the 2.5-mile oval, is closed for renovations. The plan is to reopen in April 2025.

Indy 500 vs. Formula 1

The cars that compete in the Indy 500 are part of the IndyCar Series, a North American open-wheel series. Formula 1 is a worldwide series. Cars competing in the Indy 500 exceed 240 mph on the straightaways at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. F1 cars don’t reach such speeds because they race on road and street courses with frequent turns. Here’s more on the differences between the series.

Is Indy faster than NASCAR?

Stock cars can top 200 mph, but they don’t reach the speeds Indy cars reach. Joey Logano earned the pole position at the 2024 Daytona 500 with a lap of 181.947. Here’s more on the differences between the series.

Kyle Larson is attempting the Indy 500-NASCAR ‘Double’

The 2021 NASCAR Cup champion is willing to race almost anything with wheels, and this is his first chance in the IndyCar Series. He plans to race 500 miles in Indy, then travel to Charlotte, N.C., to race 600 miles in a Cup car. That’s 1,100 miles total, if he completes the task. Here’s his schedule between Indy 500 and NASCAR duties.

Indy 500 Snake Pit

This year’s lineup of EDM stars includes Excision, Dom Dolla, Gryffin, Sullivan King and Timmy Trumpet.

But why the Snake Pit? It used to be more of an informal title of an infield area where almost anything – anything – could happen. Though Speedway officials made the facility more family friendly, the name lives on in the concert.

What is the Indy 500 pace car?

A Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the 21st iteration of the famous Chevy sports car, will lead the field of 33 to green. It’s Chevy’s 35th 500 pace car overall (dating to 1948).

Celebrities at the Indy 500

∎ Indiana Fever legend Tamika Catchings is the 500 Festival Parade grand marshal on Saturday, May 25. Catchings has led child literacy efforts and opened businesses in Indianapolis.

∎ Jordin Sparks will sing the national anthem for the second time. The “American Idol” winner and actress also sang the anthem in 2015.

How long does the Indy 500 take?

Helio Castroneves completed the 2021 race at 190.690 mph and in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 19.38 seconds, the fastest in race history. Four of the past six races have taken between 2:50 and 3 hours. The more caution-flag laps, or red-flag stops, the longer it takes.

Speed reading: Here are the fastest races in Indy 500 history

What channel is the Indy 500 on?

NBC broadcasts the race, but it’s unlikely to air live in the Indianapolis area.

Viewing/listening options: NBC | Peacock | SiriusXM

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It’s Fast Friday and drivers are turning up the heat on the track. To get ready for the main event, IndyStar is keeping race fans updated with the latest weather forecasts.

Friday’s practice runs from noon-6 p.m., with the qualifying draw starting at 6:15 p.m. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is predicting about a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms throughout the day. It’ll be overcast with highs near 77.

Qualifying rounds on Saturday and Sunday will see temperatures reach into the 80s with rain likely on Saturday but clear skies Sunday.

Here’s what’s in the forecast for other Indy 500 events and the big race May 26:

What will weather be like for the Indy 500?

It’s more than a week way, so forecasts are mixed for Race Day. Weather Underground is predicting showers that may cloud some festivities in the morning, but the green flag isn’t waved until 12:45 p.m. The company is predicting high temperatures around 76 with low temperatures around 61.

The AccuWeather forecast shows mostly sunny skies with humidity. The meteorologists there predict highs near 78 and lows around 62.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has not yet posted info for May 26.

Everything Indy 500: IndyStar’s full coverage for this year’s race

What will weather be like for Carb Day?

Carb Day on Friday, May 24, may see some showers, according to the Weather Underground. Gates at the track are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and forecasters predict about a quarter-inch of rain throughout the day. The company is calling for temperatures around a high of 75 degrees and low of 61 degrees.

AccuWeather is forecasting morning thunderstorms with rain and more storms in the afternoon. Weather forecasters are calling for nearly an inch of rain throughout Carb Day with temperatures in the low 70s.

The AccuWeather forecast shows mostly sunny skies with humidity. The meteorologists there predict highs near 78 and lows around 62.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has not yet posted info for May 24.

What will weather be like for Legends Day?

Scattered thunderstorms could drop some rain during Legends Day on Saturday, May 25, according to the Weather Underground. Gates are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The company is predicting highs at 73 degrees with lows potentially dropping to 53.

AccuWeather’s forecast is more optimistic for Legends Day with cloudy skies at times but no thunder or rain. The company forecasts temperatures right around 71 degrees.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has not yet posted info for May 25.

Indy 500 weather history

IndyStar analyzed 20 years of historic data from Weather Underground for May 26, this year’s Race Day.

Daily temperatures averaged in the high 60s and it rained only 5 days out of the last 20 since 2004. Precipitation totals on rainy days were light, with the highest on record at only one-tenth of an inch.

On previous race days not always falling on May 26, temperatures varied wildly from a high of 92 degrees in 1937 and a low at 37 degrees in 1947, according to the National Weather Service.

The most rain fell on May 30, 2004, when Race Day was inundated with nearly 4 inches of precipitation.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.