2023-09-09 00:01:02
The final round of the 2023 IndyCar Series season takes place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The latter was resurfaced and Will Power set the best time in the first free practice session.
Will Power was fastest with a lap of 1:07.2762 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. He was the fastest of nine drivers who unofficially fell under the series track record INDYCAR of 1’07″722 established by Helio Castroneves in 2000, while the 27 drivers took advantage of new asphalt this year.
Laguna Seca, Will Power rides
Power won pole position for this race last year on the old degraded asphalt with a lap of 1’11″6127. He believes that standard and Castroneves’ record will be erased in Saturday’s qualifying due to the new surface.
“Very nice, very smooth,” Power said. “Lots of grip. Yes, it’s incredibly fast. Yes, it will be an average 1’06 lap in qualifying when all is said and done. When the tires are in the right temperature, we can do that kind of chrono.”
Christian Lundgaard finished second on a good day for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, posting a best lap of 1:07.3089 in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda. Team Penske also flexed its muscles during practice, with Scott McLaughlin third in 1’07″5117 in the No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet.
Debutant Juri Vips, who made his series debut last weekend in Portland, impressed by finishing fourth in 1’07″6366 in the No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda Mi-Jack. Marcus Ericsson completed the top 5 in 1’07″6463 at the wheel of the No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Huski Ice Spritz.
Alex Palou, who won his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship last weekend in Portland, finished 12th in 1:07.8434 in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. Palou, the defending champion , was uninjured following hitting the tire barrier in turn 4 with 50 minutes remaining in the race, while he was fourth on the timesheets, and did not return to the track.
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