LONG BEACH, California – Pato O’Ward backed up his fast time on Friday by having the fastest time in Saturday’s practice session at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The Arrow McLaren driver ran a lap at 1:05.9982 around the tight 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street course on the streets of Long Beach street course alongside the Pacific Ocean for a speed of 107.348 miles per hour.
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The Chevrolet driver was followed by a trio of Andretti Autosport drivers led by Kyle Kirkwood’s No. 27 at 1:06.0149 (107.321 mph), Romain Grosjean’s No. 28 DHL entry at 1:06.0629 (207.243 mph) and 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Colton Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda at 1:06.1475 (107.106 mph).
Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin rounded out the top five in the No. 3 Chevrolet at 1:06.1870 (107.042 mph).
IndyCar and track officials reinstalled one panel of the curb in turn five overnight after it was removed because of damage during IMSA practice. It was removed because of the damage prior to IndyCar’s Friday practice session, so some of the drivers were unaware that it had been reinstalled.
Because it was part Thursday’s track walk and it had been there in previous Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach events, it was not necessary to inform teams of its reinstallation.
That created two separate incidents by Callum Ilott and Rinus VeeKay. Both Chevrolet drivers straddled the extra panel of curbing and that launched them into the air and into the turn five tire barrier.
Ilott’s incident was first, and the driver said he was unaware of the extra curbing and that “IndyCar should pay for the damage.”
VeeKay was the second driver to crash and teams up and down pit lane during the red flag reminded their drivers of the reinstallation of curbing.
Qualifications for Sunday’s 48th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach are later today at 3:06 p.m. Eastern Time.