INDIANAPOLIS, May 5 (UPI) -- Tora Takagi of Japan proved Monday his second-fastest speed on opening day at the Indianapolis 500 was no fluke.
The Toyota driver for Mo Nunn Racing picked up the pace with a lap of 229.019 miles per hour - the fastest in two days of practice.
"I was very conservative today," Takagi said. "The weather was much hotter and the track was slick. When I went out just after noon, my car wasn't so good. It was very slippery because of the track. We made many changes to the car and when I went back out after 4 p.m., the car was much, much better."
Takagi drives a G Force chassis with a Toyota engine. Scott Sharp, the fastest driver on opening day, was second-quickest Monday at 228.766 mph in a Dallara/Toyota. Scott Dixon was third in a Dallara/Toyota at 228.427 mph, followed by Gil de Ferran's 228.417 mph in a G Force/Toyota and rookie Dan Wheldon's 228.233 mph in a Dallara/Honda.
So far, 26 drivers have taken practice laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although the start of practice was delayed nearly 90 minutes while the track was being dried after morning rain, there were 1,438 laps turned in practice.
For the second day in a row, there were no crashes as teams continue to prepare for Pole Day on Saturday. The 87th Indianapolis 500 is May 25.
