Whatever the issue was, Alex Palou’s team figured it out.
The defending Indianapolis 500 champion felt amiss in his Honda, prompting his team to seek answers in Gasoline Alley with his best lap almost at the bottom of the speed chart.
After adjustments, Palou uncorks a 225.937 mph lap during Happy Hour, sending him to the top.
“We found something that explained what I was feeling,” Palou told the Fox Sports broadcast.
Marcus Armstrong ranks 2nd with a top lap of 225.895 mph on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Conor Daly, a Noblesville, Indiana, native on an Indy 500-only ride, comes in with a strong 225.838 mph effort.
Team Penske is off to a good start: Josef Newgarden (4th), Scott McLaughlin (8th) and David Malukas (10th).
The drivers completed 1,996 total laps without incident.
Indianapolis 500 leaderboard, complete results from Tuesday, May 12
(with car number, driver, engine, team, fastest lap, total laps; all drivers use Dallara chassis and Firestone tires)
Who had the fastest no-tow lap in Indy 500 practice Tuesday, May 12?
What is a no-tow lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
During the first week of Indy 500 practice, there will be a differentiation between overall fastest laps, which would likely be aided by an aerodynamic tow from a leading car, and “no-tow” laps, when a car is running without the aid of a leading car. Qualifying laps are “no-tow” laps.
As the car moves around the track, it splits the air, some going over the car and some beneath. This lack of air behind the car creates a vacuum, can pursuing cars can use it to be pulled or “towed.”
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: 5 p.m.
The first Happy Hour of May is here! Today’s top laps so far:
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: 4:15 p.m.
Defending race champ Alex Palou feels something is amiss in his Honda, so the team heads to Gasoline Alley to search for the issue.
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: 4 p.m.
No changes at the top of the leaderboard and the only cautions have been for track inspection. Dennis Hauger is the only driver who has not been on track.
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: 3 p.m.
Rookie Jacob Abel, who was bumped from the 2025 Indy 500 field, has a top lap of 223.155 mph, which is 7th best.
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: 2 p.m.
Marcus Armstrong has moved to the top of the speed chart at 225.895 mph. Alexander Rossi, who won the race as a rookie in 2016, and rookie Mick Schumacher have logged the most laps (41).
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: 1 p.m.
Top laps in the first hour of practice:
Indy 500 practice leaderboard updates: Alex Palou makes first hot lap
12:15 p.m.: Defending race champion Alex Palou takes the first high-speed laps, hitting 219.480 mph. Conor Daly (219.350) joins Palou at the top of the very early leaderboard.
Speedway names ‘America the Beautiful’ singer for Indy 500
Indianapolis native and “The Voice” contestant Ephraiam Owens will sing “America the Beautiful” before the Indy 500 on May 24. He sang the national anthem before the Indianapolis mini-marathon earlier this month.
2026 Indianapolis 500: Practice schedule, where to watch today, May 12
(All times ET; all IndyCar sessions are on IndyCar Live, IndyCar Radio, Sirius XM Channel 218 and the Fox One app)
Watch Indy 500 action with a free Fubo trial
How much are Indianapolis 500 practice tickets? Can I watch Indy 500 practice?
Indy 500 practice tickets start at $20
Will it rain during Indy 500 practice today, May 12? Indianapolis weather forecast for Tuesday, May 12
Mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid 70s.
Where to watch the Indianapolis 500? How to watch the Indy 500
TV: Pre-race coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET, Sunday, May 24, 2026, on Fox. Race coverage begins at 12:30 p.m., with the green flag scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Will Buxton is the play-by-play voice, with analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell. Georgia Henneberry and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters.
Watch Indy 500 action on Fubo
How can I stream the Indianapolis 500? How to stream the Indy 500?
FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app
How can I listen to Indianapolis 500 practice, qualifying and race?
IndyCar Nation is on SiriusXM Channel 218, IndyCar Live and the IndyCar Radio Network (check affiliates for each race). Mark Jaynes is the anchor, with driver analyst Davey Hamilton.
Indy 500 teams, drivers in 2026
(with team, car number and driver; *-Indianapolis 500 only)
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who ran the fastest laps in Indy 500 practice today, May 12?
Reporting by Scott Horner and Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
