ECR, Penske teams both make early Chevy engine changes in Indy 500 practice

Indianapolis 500 practice opened on Tuesday with three-time polesitter Ed Carpenter facing the need to install a fresh 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 Chevrolet engine when its expired during his first lap when the session opened at 12pm ET.

By 3pm, the ECR crew had Carpenter’s No. 33 Chevy ready to roll and their rivals at Team Penske encountered the same need as the motor in Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Chevy required a change. The second engine swap of the day took place after the session ended, and with the new Bowtie in place, McLaughlin demonstrated immediate speed as he claimed sixth on the speed chart with a lap of 225.576mph.

According to Team Chevy, the problem experienced with McLaughlin’s car was different to what Carpenter dealt with and was beyond immediate repair. Team Chevy also experienced a pair of motor problems at the recent Indy Open Test where Jack Harvey's Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entry and Sting Ray Robb's Juncos Hollinger Racing car required engine changes.