The entire IndyCar field resumes racing after championship leader Alex Palou displayed his dominance once again in Detroit, as drivers brace for Practice 1 in Gateway. Several drivers are battling with health issues, with Romain Grosjean undergoing surgery following his Detroit collision with Rossi, still recovering from his pre-500 health issues.
Among the first drivers to come out on the short oval there was Christian Rasmussen, who has recently signed a long-term contract extension, in spite of several crashes over the span of the 2026 season. However, the World Wide Technology Raceway had marked a positive turn to his season back last year, securing his first ever IndyCar podium. Will this upcoming race enable him to move up from his current second to last spot in the drivers’ standings?
Green lights in Gateway for IndyCar Practice 1!
After the first set of timed attempts, Palou holds a best speed of 171.120, ahead of Rossi and Ericsson. Fifteen minutes into the session, O’Ward, definitely looking for revenge after missing out on a podium finish in the previous street circuit, moves up to P2. However shortly after the Ganassi driver duo of Dixon and Simpson replaced him.
Another driver involved in a high-speed crash in Detroit was Penske’s Scott McLaughlin, who has set a fastest speed of the Gateway IndyCar Practice 1 session with forty minutes to spare in 171.37 to lead the session. He is sporting a rather particular Penske throwback livery.
Halfway through the full grid session, this was the top 10: McLaughlin, Palou, Veekay, Malukas, Dixon, Simpson, freshly injured Newgarden, O’Ward, Rossi and 500 winner Rosenqvist. The top five has all recorded speed of over 170mph, with only McLaughlin and Palou over 171mph.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong improved the Penske man’s best speed by 0.100mph. The first full course yellow flag of the Gateway weekend in Practice 1 was caused by Veekay spinning out after going wide with twenty minutes left on the clock. After spinning out at Turn 4, the Dutch driver made contact with the wall with his rear wing.
His car had to be craned out so as to be removed from the circuit, consequently the full course yellow remained in place for several moments. Practice 1 in Gateway resumed with 12:50 minutes left on the clock, Armstrong still holding on strongly to his P1 and the crashed out Dale Coyne driver in the top 5.
Talented drivers to watch at the oval
Another name to watch in the nighttime race will definitely be Malukas, another talent who has secured his first podium at the track and coming here for the first time in Penske machinery.
After his first fast lap following the removal of full course yellow, Alex Palou set the first time of the weekend in the 172mphs, with Rosenqvist moving up to the top 5 as well. Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rossi set a very positive 170.93 maximum speed, which is even more impressive taking into consideration his severe injuries from his Month of May crash.
With three minutes left on the clock, Malukas and then Rosenqvist with an considerable speed of 172.07 cycle in P2. All drivers are putting in their maximum efforts, as Rahal moves up to P8 and Armstrong joins his teammate on the provisional podium.
In the final moments of the session Pato O’Ward set the best lap speed seen so far in Gateway in 172.69, leading from Palou and Rosenqvist
