Power, Newgarden Friday’s best at Indy practice

7:30 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS — Will Power and Josef Newgarden finally got Chevrolet to the top of the speed chart Friday.

Now they’ll have to do it all over again in qualifying — at least twice.

The Australian driver for Team Penske took advantage of a power by producing the fastest lap all week in Indianapolis 500 practice, going 232.672 mph, while Newgarden finished second at 232.344.

“I’m really impressed with the speeds,” said James Hinchcliffe, the top Honda driver at 231.972. “I really didn’t think we’d hit those numbers.”

The numbers also can be deceptive.

Power acknowledged his impressive lap came with a tow, something he won’t benefit from when each of the 33 drivers make their first four-lap qualifying runs individually Saturday.

The nine fastest drivers advance to Sunday’s pole shootout while the remaining 24 will battle for starting position in their own group Sunday.

Power understands what it will take to start on the inside of Row 1 on the traditional three-car, 11-row grid. He’s qualified on the front row in three of the past six 500s and in the second row the other three times..

Newgarden also has some experience in the shootout. The young American, who drives for Ed Carpenter Racing, has started in the top nine each of the past two years at Indy.

Yet the most intriguing question heading into qualifying might be this: Can the Honda drivers regain the edge they …

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