Drivers begin prep for the Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires – Megennis leads time sheet – Askew tops no-tow times

A pair of Andretti Autosport rookies led today’s test session for the Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires. Robert Megennis led the overall timesheet with a lap at 197.714 mph and Oliver Askew topped the no-tow speeds at 195.227 mph.

Points leader Rinus van Kalmthout (Rinus VeeKay) is right there though, Ending the day with the second quickest overall speed and fourth fastest no-tow lap.

Ryan Norman ended the day with third quickest speeds on both timesheets and his Andretti Autosport teammate Jarett Andretti, making his first Indy Lights appearance impressed with the fourth fastest lap.

“It is just so much fun racing here,” exclaimed Megennis. “Today was everything I expected it to be, and more. Running flat out, going 200 mph, being two, three, four-wide: you don’t get that anywhere else. I ran a bunch in traffic to get used to it: There’s such a big draft here, and it was a blast. Andretti Autosport gave me such a great car and we prepared so well in advance that we barely changed anything. It’s not the most important thing, to get P1 in testing, but it’s still a nice way to finish off before we come back on Thursday. I can’t thank all my partners enough for getting me out here!”

The first driver on the track at 9:45 am for the first Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires test session of the day was Andretti Autosport’s Oliver Askew.

However, the yellow flag quickly came out when the Window World sponsored No. 18 AER/Dallara IL-15 came to a stop on track. The AMR INDYCAR Safety Team flat towed him back to pit road, and the track quickly reopened.

The track went yellow twice more in the first 45 minutes. Once for Andretti, who was experiencing fuel pump issues and once for debris.

Andretti Autosport veteran Ryan Norman, at 197.157 mph, was the quickest driver in the morning session.

VeeKay (Juncos Racing), Megennis (Andretti Autosport), Askew (Andretti Autosport) and Windom (Belardi Auto Racing) made up the rest of the top five.

The afternoon session followed a two-hour NTT IndyCar Series practice and began with the race running.

The majority of drivers also completed at least one mock qualifying run.

There were plenty of three and four wide moments during the late running that I’m sure had the team owners nervous. But, at the end of the day, all ten AER/Dallara IL-15s were rolled back into the garages in one piece.

No, this is not a pace lap, it’s action during an Indy Lights test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)

Behind Megennis’ lap of 197.714 mph in the top five were VeeKay, Askew, Norman, and Andretti, who all turned laps over 196 mph.

Combined testing times from Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires testing

No-tow testing times from the afternoon test session for the Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires

This year’s race will see an increased prize package with a total of $85,000 awarded to the top-three finishers, including $50,000 to the winner. In addition, TSOLadder.com Presented by Cooper Tires – which provides dedicated coverage of the Road to Indy – will be posting a new award to the race leader at the white flag – the #TSO1ToGo Award.

Unfortunate, but not surprising news from the Belardi Auto Racing camp today. Zachary Claman will not be taking part in Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires. The issue. As it always is, is money. Race teams can’t run without it.

It’s great to see Toby Sowery entered in the Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires. Sowery and his BN Racing teammate Toby Sowery got their first taste of an oval in the AER/Dallara IL-15 at Kentucky Speedway during a succesful test last week. Sowery has reamined in the U.S. after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course; helping the team rebuild the cars after that race and their oval test.