INDY 500: Pleasant surprise for Coyne

Andrettis, Ganassis, Penskes ... those are the team names expected to sit atop the speed chart during practice for the Indy 500. Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway provided a welcome change as Dale Coyne Racing, one of the smaller outfits on the rise, placed Gabby Chaves first, Conor Daly fourth and Pippa Mann 10th after six hours of practice.

The Honda-powered team helped the Japanese brand to lead the field of 33 for the third time in three days of on-track running, and according to Coyne, displacing some of the regulars was a welcome change of pace.

"Having three in the top 10 is always a good thing," Coyne told RACER. "Seeing your cars up there just shows what we're capable of, and Gabby's doing a really good job, he has his head on straight, gives great feedback, and we're always improving the car. We have a good group of guys, there's no trauma, everybody gets along well. It's really clicking nicely."

Coyne also credited the effort and performances he's seen so far from his other three drivers, including dirt track specialist Bryan Clauson.

"We're working with Bryan; there's still some driving style stuff we're working on in the corners, so that's a focus for us but he's really engaged, and Pippa's doing well, she was 10th and I think doing all the ovals last year really helped," he said. "She's jumped right back on the horse straight away, and Conor's doing a great job in fourth. We're pleased."

Chaves was nothing but smiles after setting the fastest lap early in the six-hour session and holding it for the rest of the session.

"I appreciate just being in a car, not only being on top of the time sheets today," he told RACER. "I didn't even know I'd be in a car 10 days ago. To be here and be the fastest on Day 3 on track, I couldn't ask for more."