Josef Newgarden paced the final 500 practice on Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22, 2026.
The final practice came at the Speedway as the field prepared for the Indianapolis 500, known as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Newgarden’s name led the session at the end of a day built around the last on-track tuneup before race weekend.
Miller Lite Carb Day has long served as the setting for the final Indianapolis 500 practice, giving drivers one last chance to make their cars feel right before the race. At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that role put Newgarden at the center of the day’s action and made him the driver to watch in the final run before the 500.
The result underscored how quickly the final preparations can shift a driver into the spotlight. With the last practice now complete, attention at the Speedway turns from setup and pacing to the race itself, where the only number that matters is the one that comes at the finish.
