Alexander Russell leads Thursday PRI Hoosier 500 practice

The fourth day of practice for the 2025 PRI Hoosier 500 had a different feel from the three that came before it. After a trio of days featuring big mileage totals, Thursday’s running at the virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway cooled off slightly, with drivers turning their attention toward qualifications weekend and focusing on single-car runs and four-lap simulations rather than group running.

By the end of the day, 942 laps had been completed, and it was Alexander Russell who topped the chart. The No. 27 put in a best lap of 39.226 seconds at 229.440 mph to lead the session, edging out a tightly packed group that included Christian Steele, Andrew Marquez, Bryan Campbell, and Matt Taylor in the top five.

RESULTS: Thursday Practice at the PRI Hoosier 500

Steele continued his strong week with a 39.240s lap at 229.358 mph, good for second on the day, and Marquez slotted into third at 39.276s (229.148 mph). Campbell’s best of 39.278s (229.136 mph) and Taylor’s 39.283s (229.107 mph) completed a front-running group separated by just over half a tenth of a mile per hour, the kind of spread that hints at what might be possible when attention is turned to Swift Penguin Creations Qualifications Weekend.

Jacob Oster posted a 39.287s (229.083 mph) to place sixth, just ahead of Chad Frankenfield and Sheridan Wade, who both landed inside the top eight. Nathan Paris and AJ Musselman rounded out the top 10, with Musselman logging 44 laps as one of the busier drivers in a session defined more by precision than volume.

The tone for the day was set early by a familiar champion. Two-time Hoosier 500 winner Hugo Olsson was the first car on track just before 8:00 AM Eastern, sneaking out so quickly that officials didn’t manage to grab a photo of the No. 390 in action. Olsson kept his mileage light at 10 laps, using the morning window for controlled running as he worked through his own pre-qualifying checklist.

Through four days of practice, a total of 6,204 laps have been turned and 73 different drivers have now recorded an official lap around the 2.5-mile oval. There’s also a new leader in the race for the Ironman Award: Noah Carmichael has moved to the top of the mileage charts with 465 circuits completed, including 123 more laps on Thursday. His best lap of the week remains Wednesday’s 229.791 mph tour, but his day-in, day-out presence on track has become one of the defining storylines of practice so far.

Carmichael was again active on Thursday, finishing 12th on the day at 39.311s (228.944 mph) as he continued pound pavement around the 2.5-mile oval. Jordan Owens also kept himself in the mix with a 39.302s lap (228.996 mph) to end the session 11th, adding another steady day to a quietly strong week.

COMBINED RESULTS: Cumulative Practice Results from the Week

Off the track, Thursday’s edition of Oil & Gas Safety Supply Today at the 500 carried one of the most anticipated moments of the build-up. PRI Hoosier 500 president Tanner Watkins joined the show to unveil the qualifications draw, setting the initial running order for Swift Penguin Creations Pole Day on Saturday and giving teams — and fans — their first look at how the pressure might stack up when it comes time to qualify.

With practice now balanced by more qualification-focused work, attention shifts to Acres Lawn Services Fast Friday. That session begins tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM Eastern, with the livestream starting at 7:45 AM on the Hoosier 500 YouTube channel. Oil & Gas Safety Supply Today at the 500 returns at 8:00 PM Eastern on the Elite Racing Network, where Gary Godsoe and Luis Gonzalez Nunez will set the stage for qualifying weekend and take a final look at who has momentum heading into Swift Penguin Creations Pole Day on Saturday.