INDIANAPOLIS — As Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened Sunday for the 92nd Indianapolis 500, it was a day for rookie drivers to get the attention.
Before any new driver is cleared to compete in practice and qualifications for the May 25 Indy 500, they must first go through the Rookie Orientation Program. Each driver must run a set number of laps in four phases with each phase increasing in speed. Once they pass ROP, they are no longer under speed restrictions and can begin building up speed for Saturday’s Pole Day qualifications.
In recent years, there have been a few talented rookies that usually pass through ROP with ease, but it’s much different in the unified era of the IndyCar Series.
With so many of the drivers coming over from the Champ Car Series after unification, one-third of this year’s Indy 500 starting lineup could be drivers making their first start in the biggest race of the year.
There were 13 drivers that took to the 2.5-mile oval Sunday, with former Champ Car star Will Power the fastest of the newcomers at 220.694 miles per hour. After breezing through all four phases of his rookie test, this year’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach winner ran 93 laps, just one lap short of Oriol Servia, who was third quick at 220.102 mph.
“We were first out and last in,” Power said. “Initially, when I went out I thought, ‘How the hell do you go flat here?’ But we crept up through it.
“We had a pretty safe car there at the end. It was pretty solid. I was happy to get flat all the way around because that takes you to the next level and now we start trimming the car out (for speed).”
E.J. Viso was second fastest at 220.445 mph.
The initial phase of ROP is five laps with consistent speeds of 200-205 mph followed by subsequent five-lap phases of 205-210 mph, 210-215 mph and 215-plus mph.
Ten of the 13 drivers passed ROP on Sunday. Power, Jaime Camara, Jay Howard, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alex Lloyd, Hideki Mutoh, Graham Rahal, Oriol Servia, Viso and Justin Wilson passed all four phases. Enrique Bernoldi completed three phases and may complete the fourth phase at any point later in the month.
Mario Moraes completed three laps late in the day, while Mario Dominguez did not take the track. Both drivers must complete the first three phases of ROP Monday to remain eligible to compete in the Indianapolis 500.
In addition to the 13 drivers that had to pass ROP, Davey Hamilton of Vision Racing and Max Papis of Rubicon Racing/Sam Schmidt Motorsports were required to complete the refresher test, which consists of the final phase of ROP because, although they are veterans, they have not driven an IndyCar in competition in at least one year.
While the first three drivers on Sunday were transition teams new to IndyCar, rookie driver Alex Lloyd was the fourth fastest at 219.964 mph.
Lloyd won the Indy Pro Series (now known as Firestone Indy Lights) title in 2007. That championship got him a contract from team-owner Chip Ganassi to be the team’s developmental driver in 2008.
Ganassi has loaned Lloyd to Rahal Letterman Racing for the Indy 500 where he teams up with fellow rookie driver Hunter-Reay.
“It’s strange the way it is working because if you look at my timing stand I have my engineers from Target Chip Ganassi Racing and a couple of the Rahal Letterman guys,” Lloyd said. “I’ve got two great teams that have won this race before, and many other races and championships before, and I’ve got their expertise on both sides working with me. That’s great for a first timer here because all of that experience goes a long way.”
Lloyd also has two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk working with him to help serve as a driving coach throughout the month.
With Sunday and Monday set aside for ROP, it is a huge benefit for the new drivers in this year’s race to slowly learn how to drive the demanding Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
They better learn quickly, however, as the full field of veterans take to the race course beginning May 6 with four full days of practice leading up to Saturday’s Pole Day.