Team Penske Takes 3 of Top 5

Will Power led the way on Thursday, with a top lap average of 227.778 mph.  The Australian appeared to have very little drafting help on the hot lap. His teammates Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves also made the Top 5, coming in 3rd and 4th respectively.  Team Penske had yet to appear at the top of the time charts after any of the three previous practice sessions, but strong laps in the final hour pushed them to the top.

Another team that was just as impressive on Thursday was Sam Schmidt Motorsports.  Led by a staggering lone-car run by Alex Tagliani at 227.652 mph, SSM proved they are for real once again this May.  Teammate Townsend Bell was 5th quick, with a top time of 226.741 mph. The outright speed shown by this less funded team will make the battle for pole position even more dramatic.

The scariest moment of the day was the crash of Simona de Silvestro towards the beginning of the session.  As previously reported on "Seanny D Covers Indy", de Silvestro was taken to Methodist Hospital to treat burns on her left hand.  She has since been released, but her status for qualifications this weekend is still up in the air.

With only one more full practice day before qualifications this weekend, teams are sure to be pushing the envelope to find their needed speed. "Seanny D Covers Indy" will be at the track all day tomorrow providing updates on Twitter (@SeannyDIndy) of the action.