INDIANAPOLIS — In the final hour of Monday’s race day practice in preparation for Sunday’s 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500, Will Power put down the days fastest lap with a speed of 229.222 mph in his No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet.

Power turned 88 laps in total on Monday but it was Lap 58 for which was his best. Both he and Scott Dixon were the only ones to eclipse the 229 mph barrier in the busy day that saw 2,005 laps turned in 120 minutes.

With that said, some may wonder how much the speed chart even really matters at this point forward. For Power, he feels like a lot. This car is more than capable of winning on Sunday afternoon from this historic venue.

“We’ve been having vibration problems,” Power said. “I think we got somewhat on top of that, ran at the front, ran in the middle, ran in the back. I think the car is pretty good. Yeah, I think we’re in a good spot, really good spot.”

Power starts the race from the Outside of Row 4. While it’s not ideal, he feels like if you have a good car, you’re going to be able to pass on Sunday.

“I think Chevy has a bit of an advantage on the power, as well. I feel like we have good horsepower, and I think we’re in good shape. A lot of people who are extremely good, a lot of teams.

“It’s almost going to be a day of no mistakes in the pits and just keeping out of trouble on track to give yourself a shot at the end.

“The package I have, you can run on the gearbox.”

INDYCAR updated the aero package again on superspeedway’s this year and so far, I’d say the changes are working. Power says those changes are the reason to why he’s not going to be stuck midpack like he was last year.

“Oh, it’s going to be easy to pass, not in the pack but at the front, because you’ve added downforce,” he says. “You actually haven’t added much drag. The cars are about the same speed because they’re very efficient, aero bits or strakes and some floor stuff, so it’s not big draggy wicker on the wing or anything. It’s the closest I’ve ever been able to run to a car at this place without an issue.

“I think, yeah, the front three will race pretty hard, and then as usual, you can’t — I don’t think there’s a series around — you can never have — it would be ridiculous to have enough downforce for everyone to pass, but the one thing there is is there’s tire deg, so I think that will create good racing in the pack.”

Power says the issue now is going to be not making mistakes.

“It’s almost going to be a day of no mistakes in the pits and just keeping out of trouble on track to give yourself a shot at the end,” Power said.

“The package I have, you can run on the gearbox.”

The other thing he notes is that the tire is softer and degrades more. He said that with the package the way it is, you’re going to see maybe some comers and goers as a result.

“I think if they have a better car that looks after the tire, yeah. The left sides are softer,” he said. “They get vibrations more easily and the tire degrades, so if it’s a hot day like this, there will be cars coming and going, I think.

“I think it’s just because the left sides are softer. They just degrade easier. I haven’t had a set without a vibration yet. I’ve had a couple that have been massive and you have to pit and I’ve had a couple — last one I just did a full stint, but it’s still there. It’s left side, left front, left rear. Depends which slides more.

” If you get an early one, yes, like almost to the point where you can’t drive it. Like if it’s a left rear, you get that early, have a big moment early, yeah, you’re going to be pitting on about lap 18 I feel like. Yeah, you might be able to hold on for a couple more, but it’s on the edge.

“But yeah, I think it makes for better racing. It needed some deg. Yeah, good hot day, I think it’ll be a good race. Colder day would be pretty tight. Yeah.”

If Power can win, he’d give the Captain his 19th Indy 500 triumph, but the first though since Roger Penske took over the keys to this place in 2020.