The IndyCar grid gets ready to begin Practice 2 in Mid-Ohio. Yesterday’s Practice 1 had seen plenty of on-track action, with Grosjean spinning out. It was also a busy day off track, with the drivers market going wild with announcements.
IndyCar Practice 2 goes green in Mid-Ohio
For the first moments of the session, the majority of the drivers remained in the pits, with the only exception AJ Foyt’s Ferrucci
Ferrucci set the earliest benchmark 5 minutes into the session, setting a lap time in the 1:17s.
Malukas spins out of track, travelling into the grass. Ten minutes into the session, Lundgaard took the lead of the session, setting a 1:05.925s.
Meyer Shank Racing’ Armstrong announced that yesterday’s technical issues had been caused by a rear wing component wrongfully mounted.
Kirkwood took the occasion to set the fastest lap of the weekend thus far, lowering the Arrow McLaren man’s lap time by 0.100s.
With 20 minutes left into the session, the first red flag of the day came out. In fact, Robb spun out of track into the gravel.
Under the session neutralised, Kirkwood, Lundgaard, Palou, Ericsson, Collet, Power, Siegel, McLaughlin, Armstrong and O’Ward were in the top ten. The session resumed with 17 minutes left on the clock.
The drivers focused on longer runs simulations, not rushing to set faster laps but aiming to get to know the Mid-Ohio track layout.
Rasmussen shot up to P2 with seven minutes left in the session. The majority of the grid improved, with O’Ward and Lundgaard cycling at the lead, confirming the positive Arrow McLaren feeling.
On the other hand, Rahal and Robb both stepped up into the top 5 in the final five minutes of the shared practice session. The two McLaren drivers opted for stepping out of their challengers within the latest moments, to revise data ahead of group session.
Veekay brought his Dale Coyne car up to the top ten, setting the seventh fastest time. Replays show McLaughlin and Siegel competing for track position.
Kirkwood runs wide onto the grass while returning to the pits.
Group 1 back on track
McLaughlin set the early benchmark ahead of Veekay and O’Ward. The session proceeded smoothly, with Ericsson, Power and ultimately Foster swapping at the lead. Newgarden still appears to be suffering from the consequences of his Indy 500 crash.
Foster, Kirkwood, McLaughlin, Power and O’Ward composed the top 5 of the first grouped session.
In the second, Siegel began to lead from Malukas and Palou, with the rookies rejoining this group as well. The Penske man set the fastest group lap with 5 minutes to go, right before McLaren’s Lundgaard sprint out off track. The Dane is, however, able to steer away from the wall, saving his can no. 7.
Rossi moves up to the top spot, but Malukas returns in the lead within the final moments of the final session. While on a final flying lap, DCR’s Hauger went wide off track and into the barriers at Turn 6, not causing a red flag as the session was already ending.
