Completely different teams, completely different quantities of observe availability.
So, what did we study in regards to the aggressive route of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES up to now within the fiftieth version of the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside? In all probability not a lot.
A clearer understanding needs to be on show Saturday when the weekend’s second apply is held (11:30 a.m. ET, FS1, FOX Sports activities app) forward of qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (2:30 p.m. ET, FS2, FOX Sports activities app). The INDYCAR Radio Community may have dwell protection of each classes.
However this a lot we all know:
They’re Nonetheless Chasing Alex Palou
Don’t let Friday’s general velocity chart mislead you. Palou set the tempo within the first section of the session – the half that supplied essentially the most observe time – after which ran a clear and productive 10 minutes in Group 1 to finish the day. His finest lap of 1 minute, 7.5306 seconds ended up seventh general.
The driving force of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda has gained the season’s first two races. He holds a 39-point lead on his nearest challenger – Pato O’Ward within the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet – and has a historical past of robust performances on this occasion.
Palou has completed within the prime 5 of every of his 4 races on this 11-turn, 1.968-mile short-term road circuit. No, he hasn’t reached victory lane, however he’s nonetheless a superb guess to develop into solely the game’s second driver since 2006 to win the primary three races of the brand new yr. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon gained the primary three of the 2020 season.
O’Ward, Herta Don’t Apply A lot
O’Ward bounced his machine off the wall exiting the well-known hairpin flip early within the afternoon, a scenario which required prolonged repairs. The crew rebuilt the left rear nook in time for O’Ward to publish one sizzling lap on the finish, but it surely wasn’t a lot of a session.
The Mexican might use each lap obtainable as this circuit hasn’t been form to him. His five-race common end of 15.4 is his worst of the tracks on this yr’s schedule. He has completed within the prime 10 solely as soon as – he was fifth in 2022.
O’Ward noticed his finest Friday lap of 1:07.9477 rank thirteenth.
Andretti World w/Curb-Agajanian’s Colton Herta spent an identical period of time together with his automotive parked on pit highway. The problem with the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda was a damper change, and that every one however worn out the period of time allotted for apply.
Like O’Ward, Herta was in a position to get a sizzling lap in as INDYCAR allowed every staff in Group 2 one timed lap after a stoppage to retrieve the No. 45 Mi-Jack Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Louis Foster, which had stalled in a run-off space. Herta thought the lap was messy, however at the very least he acquired the possibility to really feel Firestone’s alternate tire compound upfront of qualifying.
Herta, who completed with the eighth-best general lap (1:07.6632) regardless of bumping the Flip 11 wall simply forward of the timeline, needs to attain his second NTT P1 Award up to now 4 years right here. He additionally completed second in final yr’s race gained by Dixon.
Dixon Nonetheless Reigns as Newest ‘King of the Seaside’
Sure, that official title belongs to Al Unser Jr., who gained a file six INDYCAR SERIES races on this occasion. However Dixon has gained right here twice – he first gained in 2015 – and he was inducted within the Lengthy Seaside Motorsports Stroll of Fame earlier than Friday’s apply.
Final yr, the driving force of the No. 9 PNC Financial institution Chip Ganassi Racing Honda held off Crew Penske’s Josef Newgarden, Herta and Palou in one of many season’s most thrilling finishes. Dixon had to make use of each little bit of his huge expertise to go 10 laps longer than Herta in the course of the closing sequence. It was a murals by “The Iceman.”
Dixon solely had the Tenth-fastest lap Friday, however he definitely wasn’t sweating his 1:07.8080, saying that the restricted quantity of testing groups get upfront of races creates trial and error on the primary day of operating at every occasion. Which helps what we’re saying right here.
We’ll study extra Saturday.
