Indy NXT | Qualifying | Laguna Seca | Collet takes double pole - Motorsport

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After IndyCar second practice was cancelled, Indy NXT qualifying for rounds 10 and 11 got going later than scheduled at Laguna Seca as the medical helicopter could finally fly, full report and results below. Low cloud had been around throughout the morning.

Group 1

Following a crash in Practice 2, Indy NXT championship leader Dennis Hauger was out in Group 1. Lochie Hughes and Myles Rowe were also out in this one.

With 8 minutes to go, a 1:14.079 from Myles Rowe saw him lead Hughes by 0.016s. Hauger was P3, 0.7s away at that point. However, the ‘Norwegian Nightmare’ was the first to go below 74s as he logged a 1:13.991.

Nolan Allaer put his left hand side wheels in the gravel out of turn 3. Lochie Hughes had a solid lock-up into the Corkscrew.

The title contenders traded top spot as a 1:13.756 from Hughes put him P1, before Hauger hit back with a 1:13.327. Despite a moment in turn 10 during the session, Myles Rowe ended up splitting them as the Iowa winner logged a 1:13.642 for P2 in this group.

Such was the speed of the championship leader, he also did the second best time of anyone in the session, guaranteeing at least a P2 start in both races.

Group 1 classification and results from Indy NXT Laguna Seca qualifying

Hauger
Rowe
Hughes
Murray
Missig
Correa
Aron
de Alba
Allaer

Group 2

Unsurprisingly, Caio Collet was quick out of the traps in Group 2. He did a 1:13.955, then a 1:13.381 to get within half a tenth of what Hauger did in the first group. Josh Pierson was also very strong, doing a 1:13.436 to properly challenge the Brazilian. Hedge and Koolen were also in the 1:13s with 3 minutes to go.

There was a big twist in the final minute. After cooling the tyres, Collet smashed in a 1:13.256 to take P1 for race 1 later. Pierson, Hedge, Koolen and Taylor completed the top 5 as they all did 1:13s as well.