INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward finally saw his name at the top of the Indianapolis 500 leaderboard Thursday.
He's hoping his name is still in the No. 1 spot on May 24.
The Mexican driver who finished second in 2022 and 2024 and third last year in IndyCar's biggest race of the season posted the fastest lap of the day on the third day of practice on Indy's 2.5-mile oval, going 227.308 mph. Four-time race winner Helio Castroneves, who tried his hand at Cup cars earlier this year, posted a 226.977.
“I like love the whole month, the practice days going into qualifying. The whole thing of qualifying on its own weekend, I love that," O'Ward said. “I really enjoy watching as well, and it's cool to see the big runs, big numbers and then going out there yourself and trying to beat that.”
The only thing that would be better than beating the competition in practice would be celebrating with a sip of milk after the 500.
But as O'Ward knows, Thursday's numbers don't mean much heading into qualifications Saturday and Sunday — or race day.
All 33 cars will have their power cranked up with a turbocharged boost Friday and before starting their four-lap qualifying runs Saturday.
Because of that, most teams used the six-hour practice session to work on qualifying runs, banking information on race-day setups and simply trying to get more answers about what works well and what won't during the race.
And the speeds were not nearly as quick as Wednesday when Conor Daly and defending Indy winner Alex Palou topped 228.
Only five drivers — O'Ward, Castroneves, Marcus Armstrong, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi — hit 226.
“You couldn’t ask for better weather, not only in terms of the wind conditions, but the temperature, everything is just perfect,” Castroneves said as the Brazilian again tries to become Indy's first five-time winner. ”We know it’s going to be like this Saturday (in qualifying), but at the end of the day we felt comfortable. The starting point is one of the best balances I’ve had on qualifying weekend. We’ll see what we’ve got tomorrow.”
But speed was only part of Thursday's story.
Two-time race winner Takuma Sato posted the fastest non-tow speed at 223.828 while Team Penske teammates Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas were second and third in non-tow speeds at 223.738 and 223.391.
Rossi, the 2016 Indy winner, was the busiest driver of the day. He turned 68 laps less than 24 hours after his crew with Ed Carpenter Racing changed his engine.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
FILE - Pato O'Ward is introduced before an IndyCar auto race, Aug. 31, 2025, at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — Ian Happ hit a long home run and five Chicago Cubs pitchers combined for a 2-0 shutout of the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, snapping a four-game losing streak.
Ben Brown made his second straight start after starting the season with 12 appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed just one hit in four innings and struck out seven in 65 pitches. In his two starts, he has not allowed a run in eight innings.
Hoby Milner (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb each threw a scoreless frame and Daniel Palencia struck out two in the ninth for his third save. The Braves, who lead the majors in runs scored, were shut out for the second time this season and had just five hits.
Chris Sale (6-3) allowed just one unearned run in six innings for the Braves as he worked around five hits and two walks. He had eight strikeouts and left six Cubs on base.
Happ's home run led off the eighth inning and traveled 424 feet to right field, bouncing off the side of the Chop House restaurant. It came off Reynaldo López and extended the Cubs' lead to 2-0.
Michael Busch was 1 for 3 with a single, extending his on-base streak to 15 games.
The Cubs scored their first run thanks to an error by Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim in the sixth. With Happ on first, Seiya Suzuki hit a grounder to shortstop. In an effort to start a double play, Kim flipped the ball over the head of second baseman Ozzie Albies, putting runners on first and third. Matt Shaw's fielder's choice RBI scored Happ.
Cubs: RHP Edward Cabrera (3-1, 3.88) will face White Sox RHP Sean Burke (2-3, 3.68) in the opener of a three-game road series Friday against their crosstown rivals.
Braves: RHP Spencer Strider (1-0, 2.89) will make his third start of the season Friday against rookie Red Sox LHP Connelly Early (3-2, 3.16) in the opener of a three-game series in Atlanta.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong catches a fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim tries to field a single hit by Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong during the second inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale delivers to a Chicago Cubs batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ is greeted in the dugout after scoring against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
