The qualifying practice, a week ago, did not allow the two Frenchmen to really shine, the Spaniard Alex Palou, current leader in the general, having arrogated to himself the leading role, since he signed the fastest pole in the history of the mythical race.

Nevertheless, nothing is ever played in advance on the oval where 200 rpm will have to be swallowed in just under three hours. A show, with optional decibels and smells of kerosene, which will attract some 300,000 spectators around the Speedway, pre-pandemic attendance that the organizers announce to be one of the strongest in the last 25 years.

Proof of this, Pagenaud, who started from 26th place in 2021, finished on the podium (3rd). And, over the last 13 editions, he is the only "poleman" to have kept the controls until the end to triumph in 2019.

French driver Romain Grosjean before a practice session at the Indianapolis 500, May 26, 2023 © Justin Casterline/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Hence the confidence displayed last weekend by the 39-year-old driver despite unsatisfactory qualifying, at the wheel of his Meyer Shank Racing.

22nd qualifying, "not a disaster"

A 22nd time, "it's not a disaster but it's not pole either, so there's a lot of work to do. In the race version, I felt very comfortable. I'm confident we can get back on track," said Pagenaud, who has finished in the top 8 in four of the last five editions.

Frenchman Simon Pagenaud during practice for the Indianapolis 500, May 26, 2023 © Justin Casterline/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Grosjean (Andretti), who did not finish the race won by Sweden's Marcus Ericsson last year, victim of a slight accident, had to settle for the 19th time, which puts him one line ahead of his compatriot.

"We didn't have the performance. We didn't accelerate enough in a straight line and we couldn't do anything. I knew our position would be around 15th-20th place," he said last Saturday.

But the former F1 driver, still looking for a first IndyCar victory, said he was satisfied with Friday's final practice, the 8th set time reflecting successful set-ups for improved performances over 90 minutes.

Grosjean optimistic

"I'm very happy with what we did with the race car. We tried everything we wanted - good things came out of it, some didn't," said Grosjean, who was fourth in the championship after finishing 2nd at the Long Beach and Alabama Grands Prix and who approaches the event without pressure, believing "there are stronger cars".

Among these, we must first mention the Chip Ganassi of Alex Palou, who flew over qualifying with the fastest average speed in history (234.217 mph, or 376.8552 km/h) and obviously dreams of a consecration after his second place last year.

The first Spaniard in history to win pole, the 26-year-old driver, IndyCar champion in 2021, will necessarily be the favorite of this 107th edition whose green flag will be waved by actor Adam Driver, who grew up in Indiana and who has just played Enzo Ferrari in a film directed by Michael Mann, to be released soon.

On the same line in his mirrors will start the Dutchman Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing) and the Swede Felix Rosenqvist (Arrow McLaren). But the competition will be as always raised with men of experience always quick to make it talk, such as the New Zealander Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing), Takuma Sato (Chip Ganassi Racing) or Tony Kanaan (Arrow McLaren), all forty-year-old but far from being outdated.

© 2023 AFP