Indianapolis ? Drivers hoping to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 were searching for more speed Friday, and those already in the 33-car field worked on making their cars more competitive.

Not Jaques Lazier.

The younger brother of 1996 Indy champion Buddy Lazier stood in front of his speedway garage signing autographs and posing for pictures as the sound of race cars on the nearby track reverberated off the walls.

“Nothing to worry about,” said Lazier, one of three drivers who had four-lap, 10-mile qualifying runs bumped by faster cars on the first day of time trials. “We’re ready.”

While other drivers drove lap after lap on the 21â2-mile oval in the final full day of practice before time trials resume, Lazier went around just 15 times early in the afternoon-long session. His top lap was 218.782 mph.

“I’m actually very happy with the way things are going,” said Lazier, who has raced at Indy four of the last five years with a best finish of 17th.

Under the speedway’s new qualifying format, 11 drivers were to qualify on each of the first three days of time trials, with the fourth day reserved for the possibility of bumping the slowest cars. Rain washed out the opening day Saturday, so the speedway had 22 drivers qualify Sunday. The rest of the qualifying will play out today and Sunday.