Windy Conditions Tested Drivers on Fast Friday at Indianapolis | IndyCar

Despite only having two days of practice, Fast Friday arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. This is typically the day that drivers get an added boost of horsepower and reach the fastest speeds of the month as they prepare for qualifications tomorrow. Mother Nature threw a wrinkle into those plans though. Not with rain, but incredibly gusty winds.

Practice began after a 45-minute delay when timing and scoring lost power on pit lane. Once that was sorted out, a handful of drivers began to tip-toe onto the oval. The wind gusts of nearly 40 mph made the conditions quite tricky for the guys behind the wheel. With several close calls and not much to be gained from running, the action was few and far between for most of the afternoon.

The most intense moment came around 1:30 when Jimmie Johnson slid high exiting Turn 2 and smacked the outside SAFER barrier. His No. 48 Honda hit squarely with both right-side wheels, which helped minimize the damage. “I’ve been trying to study,” Johnson said afterward. “The wind direction is massive today. I felt like I had the corner made. I got square with the wall, but with the late exit and wind at my backside, I just needed six more inches.”

“I’ve hit plenty of things during my career in racing,” Johnson continued. “Luckily it wasn’t a full yard sale, it was just crossing the line a little bit. I was able to download with my teammates and get a better feel for positions with the tools inside the car. I was too cautious with my settings and had a lot of understeer in the car, and I just didn’t get on top of it quick enough.”