Caio Collet announced himself in earnest at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, with the AJ Foyt Racing rookie pulling out a 226.381 mph tow lap to lead the second and final day of the 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Test.
The Brazilian, who is in his first season of full-time NTT IndyCar Series competition after stepping up from Indy NXT, was one of only two drivers to crest the 226 mph mark across the two-day shakedown, leaving him surprised by the result.
"No, I never expected that," Collet said. "Obviously, I knew that the team have a really good background here and they've done really well the last couple of years, especially last year. But, as a rookie, I was just trying to learn things and see how everything went, but I think we did a really good job."
Collet's pace owed plenty to a tow from a passing car, an Indianapolis quirk where a slipstream can lift a driver several mph above their genuine standalone speed. The team had spent both days quietly working through traffic, race-stint and qualifying simulations, and the rookie said the hardest piece of the puzzle was still managing the pack.
"The team got me up to speed really quickly, and I got really comfortable, quickly," he added. "I have a lot of things that I still need to learn, especially on traffic. I need to understand how to manage traffic, and how to get by people. I think by myself, I felt really good. The team gave me a really good car as well. Both days, we were just improving step by step."
The no-tow story belonged to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Jack Harvey, who set the genuine standalone benchmark at 221.122 mph. Coupled with Conor Daly leading Day 1, the small-team Chevrolet operation finished the test with the strongest argument that its preparation has caught the eyes of the veteran Penske, Ganassi and McLaren camps.
"This is just the first step towards coming back here next month and trying to win another Indianapolis 500," Newgarden said. "It's the greatest race in the world and we have a good base to come back with. It was a pretty clean day for the Shell Fuel Rewards Chevy team and it's always nice to see your number towards the top of the pylon. Team Chevy brought good power once again. It is a long month to get to the race but we are in a good place leaving the test."
The field's rookies attracted as much attention as the headline names. Mick Schumacher cleared his refresher programme with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Caio Collet's no-tow speed underlined that his tow lap wasn't a fluke, and the test's strong all-round attendance underlined how broad the 33-car entry list is set to be.
With on-track activity over until full Indy 500 practice opens on May 13, attention now shifts to the Sonsio Grand Prix at the IMS Road Course this weekend. AJ Foyt Racing leaves the test buoyed by the first proof point that Collet may not just make the show, but contend for a strong rookie qualifying performance.
