INDIANAPOLIS – Alex Palou, the NTT IndyCar Series points leader, was the fastest driver in Friday afternoon’s practice session on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Palou’s best time was 1:10.8839 for a speed of 123.870 mph in the No. 10 NTT Data Honda in the only practice before Friday night’s qualification session for Saturday’s Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix.
Palou enters the weekend with a 42-point lead over Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon in the battle for the series championship.
RESULTS: Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix Practice
Rinus VeeKay was second at 1:10.9602 (123.831 mph) in the No. 20 Sonax Chevrolet. Pato O’Ward was third at 1:10.9267 (123.795 mph) in an Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, followed by Jack Harvey’s No. 60 Honda at 1:10.9397 (123.773 mph).
Two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden rounded out the top-five in the 28-car practice session at 1:11.0850 (123.520 mph).
Team Penske driver Will Power was sixth at 1:11.1113 (123.747 mph) in the No. 12 Chevrolet, with 20-year-old debutant Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing seventh at 1:11.1412 (123.422 mph) in the No. 45 Honda.
The red flag flew with seven minutes left when Colton Herta came to a stop on the course leaving pit exit. According to the team, it was a clutch problem and an oil pressure warning. Team strategist Bryan Herta told his son to shut off the engine to prevent any further damage to the Honda powerplant.
The 28 cars entered in Saturday’s race are the second-most cars for an IndyCar race this season other than the Indianapolis 500 since 34 cars were entered at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October of 2011.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jimmie Johnson was 27th in the practice for the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing at 1:12.2995 (121.445 mph).
“It’s an awesome weekend,” Johnson said. “What a great weekend for racing fans. It’s nice to be back with my NASCAR family this weekend. I think the Cup cars are going to put on a great show this Sunday.”
Johnson believes he is making improvement in his understanding of IndyCar and now it’s time to start showing that on the race track.
“I’ve been able to find the low-hanging fruit; now it’s time to improve my game,” Johnson said. “I am surrounded by a great team and now it’s time for me to move up front. I’m out of my comfort zone and truly feel alive. I always had a lot of respect for this form or racing. These guys are so good. It’s great to see that happen in IndyCar.”