Top class running got under way at the Worldwide Technology Raceway today ahead of Saturday nights Bommarito Automotive Group 500. The 1.25 mile oval features two very different corners at either end, turn 1 and 2 run tight and are banked at 11 degrees while turn 3 and 4 run much wider and are banked at 9 degrees. The unique layout has given us some exhilarating racing over the years and is consistently seen as one of the most entertaining events on the IndyCar calendar after its reintroduction in 2017.
As the clock struck noon, the cars made their way on track for the installation laps. The first car on the tower with a hot lap was Dalton Kellet in the #4 AJ Foyt machine with a 173.893 MPH run. Kellet was soon topped by David Malukas who turned a 175.943 MPH lap for his first flyer of the day. Malukas would end the day in P13 with 57 laps turned in his #18 Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsport car, the most of any driver on the grid.
As more cars got on track for hot laps, Josef Newgarden found his way to the top of the tower with a massive 179.662 MPH effort, putting himself over two MPH ahead of the rest of the field. Newgarden would maintain that for most of the session but in the end he would shake out to P8 with that being his best lap of the day.
Also firmly in the mix for the top spot was Andretti Autosport rookie Devlin DeFranchesco, who held a consistent P2 under Newgarden in the first half of practice. He would end the session in P11 after running in the top 10 for the majority of the session, with a 179.090 being his best lap.
Penske teammates Will Power and Scott McLaughlin contested for the top sport for most of the session, both consistently holding firm in the top five. Power takes the checkered flag at the end of the hour-long session with a 180.542 being the fastest lap in the field. McLaughlin finished a few spots down from Power in P4, with a 180.050 being his best effort on the day.
Another driver with a solid performance was Felix Rosenqvist in his Arrow McLaren #7 machine. The Swedish driver has had a few good oval runs this season with a pole position in Texas and a p4 finish at the Indy 500. With his future in the series uncertain, a good performance this weekend is crucial.
One of the main stories of the day lies at the back of the grid. Jimmie Johnson came plum last in the first practice session with 51 laps turned, his best being a 173.244. Johnson has been renowned for his oval performances this season, with his lowest finishing position being 12th in the first Iowa race.
The NASCAR champion has been vocal this week about his love for ovals and in this morning’s press conference, spoke on his enjoyment of multi lanes ovals specifically, like this one and Iowa. Johnson’s teammates all finished in the top 10, with Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson in the top five. He still has Qualifying and another practice session today to get a better feel of the track, which he hasn’t visited since his Bush Series days, but it wasn’t a spectacular start to the weekend for the 48 machine.
Overall this session ran very smoothly and was free of any major incidents. Conor Daly did get close however, having to make two massive saves in turn 1 and 2 following a setup change to his #20 Ed Carpenter Racing entry.
Cars take the track again at 3:15pm local time for qualifying and once again later tonight for the nine car high line focused practice from 6-6:30pm and the normal full field practice from 6:45 to 7:45pm.
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