Alex Palou has a knack for finding the top of the speed chart, even when the car seems determined to hold him back. Tuesday's practice for the Indianapolis 500 was no exception, as the defending champion turned a frustrating day into a statement run.

The first four hours were a struggle. Palou radioed his Chip Ganassi Racing crew about a rear-end issue, and the team tore apart the No. 10 Honda in Gasoline Alley, hunting for a fix. It wasn't until the final 30 minutes that he returned to the track—and promptly laid down a blistering lap of 225.937 mph, reclaiming the top spot. In that moment, he reminded everyone why he's the favorite for the 108th running of the race.

"It's good, it's good now," said Palou, who has won three of six races this season and leads the championship standings. "We had a few little issues, but we found something and it was good to go back out. It was just a shame we had those few little issues."

The Spaniard didn't elaborate on what the crew discovered, but the timing couldn't have been better. Tuesday's hot, slick, and breezy conditions mirrored what's expected for pole qualifying on Sunday and race day on May 24. That makes the late-session speed even more meaningful—but also raises questions about how the car will handle the cooler temperatures forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday.

As is often the case with the four-time series champion, Palou left the track wanting more. But he wasn't alone. Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing led for most of the six-hour session with a 225.895 mph lap, only to be bumped in the final half-hour. Conor Daly, two-time Indy winner Josef Newgarden, and six-time IndyCar champ Scott Dixon were the only other drivers to top 225 mph on a day where the biggest challenge was simply staying ahead of the mechanical gremlins.