INDIANAPOLIS – Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP ran a blistering lap under high heat conditions in Friday’s second practice session for Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
O’Ward posted a time of 1:09.7839 in his No. 5 Chevrolet. Friday morning’s first practice fastest driver, Alex Palou, was second at 1:09.8173 in the No. 10 American Legion Honda.
Colton Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda at Andretti Autosport was third at 1:09.8423. Defending GMR Grand Prix winner Rinus VeeKay was fourth in the No. 21 Chevrolet at 1:09.9265 with second-year driver Christian Lundgaard rounding out the top five at 1:10.002 in the No. 30 Honda at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
The track temperature was closer to 30 degrees hotter for the second practice than in Friday morning’s practice and that made for some slick and treacherous conditions.
Dalton Kellett was first to run off course in his No. 4 Chevrolet. Jimmie Johnson also ran off course into the gravel pit. Those two incidents brought the red flag out for a total of 10 minutes and 16 seconds.
Midway through the second practice, Herta was on top of the timing list at 1:10.7720 in the No. 26 Honda. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was second at 1:10.8241 in the No. 3 Chevrolet.
As the session entered into the final 10 minutes, O’Ward of Monterey, Mexico put his No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP on top at 1:09.7839. That was just ahead of Alex Palou’s 1:09.8137 in the No. 10 American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Herta was third at 1:09.8423 and defending GMR Grand Prix winner Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands at 1:09.9265 in the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing.
Qualifications are set to begin at 4 p.m. ET.