Oreovicz: Honda's speed at Indy surprises rivals

Khris Hale/ICON SportswireINDIANAPOLIS -- Based on how the 2016 season started, expectations were low for Honda in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Honda drivers struggled in the first five races of the campaign, with a second place by Graham Rahal at the Grand Prix of Alabama and a pair of thirds achieved by Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe. Honda drivers also struggled in early testing of the speedway aero package being used at Indianapolis, Texas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway.

But a funny thing happened over the last few weeks. Honda Performance Development engineers got a handle on the troublesome aero kit that has vexed Honda drivers for the last two years. And the…