Photo Credit: Chris Owens/IndyCar
Gabby Chaves, driver of the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, has continued to find speed ahead of 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as well as in the top-10 in Fast Friday practice.
“Yeah, it certainly does,” Chaves said. “It’s only practice, but it feels pretty good. It’s my first time at the top of the charts here at IMS in IndyCar. Just pleased with the work the team has been doing. Very pleased with the performance that Honda has been putting out, as well.”
There is some talk of the new aeropackage and the height adjustments. There is also talk of how the cars handle in dirty air around other cars versus being out in front alone.
“Yeah, I think there’s a difference,” Chaves stated. “Certainly in my experience, when you get behind five, six cars, it’s worse than when you’re just behind one. But again, that’s the way it is, and that’s why we’re running out there trying to find those groups, so we can tune the car for that.”
Towards the end of April, Chaves didn’t even have a ride lined up and then out of nowhere he landed a ride with Dale Coyne Racing in both the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the road course at IMS and the 100th Running of the Indy 500. Needless to say its been a whirlwind May for him so far.
“Well, this month for me started 10 days ago, or eight days ago when I found out I was going to race at the Grand Prix, and now I’m just really stoked just to be here,” Chaves added. “And then to be out there and I think pretty competitive, it just feels pretty good.”
