IndyCar returns to California as the grid heads back to the streets of Long Beach for Practice 1! Following an intense race in Barber, recent race winner and defending series champion Alex Palou trails Kyle Kirkwood in the standings by just 2 points.
Green means go for Practice 1 in Long Beach!
It’s cars on track in sunny Long Beach as Palou leads the grid out for Practice 1’s group session. Josef Newgarden sets the first time of the session, with a 1:22.13s, followed by Penske teammates McLaughlin and Malukas also setting times in the 1:22’s. Eight minutes into the weekend’s first session, Ciao Collett sets a rapid 1:13.60s, before Kyffin Simspon rockets ahead with a 1:11.62! It doesn’t take long into Practice 1 for the times to start creeping quicker.
The first red flag of the session comes courtesy of Mick Schumacher, as he comes to a stop on track with unspecified issues just past the fountain. It’s an unfortunate loss of valuable track time as the German tries to learn yet another unfamiliar circuit to him.
Green flag running resumes as the timing tower ticks away with 25 minutes remaining in the group session.
Alex Palou becomes the first driver to break the 1:10’s, as he sets a screaming 1:09.94. Consequently, the defending series champ sits 2 points behind Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood, a former winner around Long Beach. The Spaniard sits a full second ahead of the field with 20 minutes remaining.
It’s neck and neck between Palou and Kirkwood, as both drivers break into the 1:08’s. Shortly after, Felix Rosenqvist had a hairy moment exiting the final hairpin with a big slide.
With 10 minutes remaining, the top 5 are Palou, Rosenqvist, O’Ward, McLaughlin, and Malukas, all firmly in the 1:08s.
A red flag during the closing moments of the group session sees the cars return to the pits, with no change in the top 5. The timing tower ticks to zero with Lundgaard, Rossi, Kirkwood, Armstrong, and Newgarden rounding out the top 10.
Group 1 gets the green
Caio Collet sets the opening time for the first of the split sessions with a 1:09.86. However, Pato O’Ward pips the top spot by a tenth of a second shortly after. Kirkwood sets a stupidious 1:07.98, the first of the 1:07’s for the weekend, absolutely lighting up the track. It’s an Andretti Global 1-2-3 with 8 minutes left, as Ericsson and Power hold second and third.
Power continues to push and finds another two-tenths, and sits strongly in the lead with a 1:07.60 after doing a 1:07.8 the tour before.
With a minute left for Group 1, Scott McLauglin brings out the red flag after a low-speed crash into the barriers, effectively bringing an end to the session. He had done P2 on a 1:07.7
Group 1 leaves the track with Power leading after a blistering 1:07.60, from McLaughlin, Kirkwood, Ericsson, and Roesnqvist.
Group 2 hits the track
Alex Palou holds the early lead with a 1:09.28, sitting ahead of the field for Group 2 by 5 tenths. Quickly after, teammate Kyffin Simpson pips the top spot from Palou with a 1:08.73. Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel quickly joins Simpson in the 1:08s group.
Palou storms to the front of the second session for, as he sets a 1:08.00, just outside of the 1:07’s of Group 1.
With the checkered flag falling for Group 2, Alex Palou leads Armstrong, Lundgaard, Dixon, and Rossi. Additionally, the top times for Group 2 still sit four tenths of a second behind the top time set by Will Power in Group 1.
