LONG BEACH, Calif. – Colton Herta continued his role as the California Kid as the Andretti/Curb-Agajanian driver was fastest in Saturday morning’s NTT IndyCar Series practice session in advance of Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda lapped the 11-turn, 1.968-mile temporary street course in 1 minute, 7.9783 seconds. He was also the fastest driver in Friday’s 45-minute session.
“There’s still some work to be done to make the car better, but the grip level is there,” Herta said. “The cars have been amazing on the street courses.”
Team Penske driver and former Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race winner Will Power was second at 1 minute, 8.1277 seconds in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. Andretti Autosport driver James Hinchcliffe was third in the No. 29 Honda at 1 minute, 8.260 seconds, followed by Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden’s time of 1 minute, 8.2922 seconds in the No. 2 Chevrolet.
Team Penske drivers were fifth and sixth including Simon Pagenaud’s lap of 1 minute, 8.4297 seconds in the No. 22 Chevrolet and rookie Scott McLaughlin’s 1 minute, 8.4771 second mark in the No. 22 Chevrolet.
“I feel really good and the car feels really nice,” McLaughlin said. “I’m trying to take a few steps back to go forward. I’m excited about what is ahead for us. You have to throw your brains out a little bit and skip the fear and go up against he wall and see how it feels.”
NTT IndyCar Series points leader Alex Palou tried to do a flying simulator lap, but Rinus VeeKay spun and stalled with almost one minute left. A few seconds later, Scott Dixon went too fast into Pine Avenue and stuffed the No. 9 Honda into the tire barriers.
That ended the session.
Palou finished 16th at 1 minute, 8.8234 seconds in the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda. He enters the weekend with a 35-point lead over Pato O’Ward, who was eighth at 1 minute, 8.5105 seconds in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet.
Qualifications are set for Saturday at 3:06 p.m. Eastern Time.