Andretti leads at Wednesday's Indy 500 practice halfway point

Marco Andretti led a Honda 1-2 at the halfway mark of Wednesday’s seven-hour practice session for the Indy 500. Andretti’s No. 98 Andretti-Herta entry (226.900mph) was marginally faster than Scott Dixon’s No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing car (226.329mph). Chevy’s best came from A.J. Foyt Racing’s Tony Kanaan in the No. 14 (225.740mph) and Ed Carpenter in his No. 20 (225.164mph) as the Bowtie duo posted the third- and fourth-fastest laps under warm and overcast skies.

Andretti’s Carlos Munoz was fifth in his No. 26 Honda (224.562mph) and the rest of the top 10 was a blend of cars using powerplants from both manufacturers.

The early, fast laps from Andretti followed Tuesday’s running where Team Penske Chevy posted the fastest morning lap with Simon Pagenaud and held sway at the end of the day with another fast lap turned by Helio Castroneves.

If there’s one takeaway so far at the 2.5-mile oval, it’s the lack of separation found throughout most of the field. Thanks to Chevy and Honda making similar power and the return to a spec aero kit, speeds have been close as the top 24 cars are in the 223-226mph range.

Looking at the no-tow speeds for laps set without the aid of a leading car cutting through the air, Kanaan was No. 1 at the halfway point (223.048mph).

Other than routine track inspections, no on-track issues have taken place.

Practice concludes at 6 p.m. ET.