Alex Palou impressed once again at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday, dominating the pre-qualifying practice for The Honda Indy 200. The championship leader set the quickest lap in the one-hour session, solidifying his command at this circuit that has seen him excel throughout the season. Palou, driving the No. 10 Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, posted a best lap time of 1 minute, 5.3961 seconds, demonstrating why Mid-Ohio has become a stronghold for him.
Strong Performances from Key Contenders in Practice
Following Palou, Christian Lundgaard secured second-best time of 1:05.5529 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Rookie Louis Foster continued his promising debut season, finishing third in the No. 45 Droplight Honda fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, clocking a lap of 1:05.5962. Reigning Mid-Ohio winner Pato O’Ward added to Arrow McLaren’s strong showing by placing fourth with a lap time of 1:05.7280 in the No. 5 Chevrolet.
Felix Rosenqvist overcame earlier mechanical difficulties to climb to fifth place during the session. Driving the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian, Rosenqvist matched a lap of 1:05.7945 in a car featuring a tribute livery honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Meanwhile, Kyle Kirkwood, who was fastest on Friday, slipped to ninth with a best lap of 1:05.9352 in the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda, also sporting a special Honda-themed paint scheme.
Challenging Track Conditions Test Drivers’ Skills
The demanding and uneven terrain of Mid-Ohio proved difficult once more, particularly at Turn 4, where several prominent drivers slid off course. Former winners Colton Herta and Scott McLaughlin, as well as Kyffin Simpson, experienced excursions into the gravel there. Nolan Siegel narrowly avoided a major incident after losing control through Turn 5, his No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet nearly spinning out during the final lap of practice.
Alex Palou himself was not immune to the circuit’s challenges; after setting his fastest lap, he briefly drove through the grass at Turn 11, illustrating how tightly contested the session was. The practice was briefly halted due to a crash from 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, who hit the tire barrier at Turn 13. Despite damage to the front wing and suspension of his No. 28 FOX INDYCAR Honda from Andretti Global, Ericsson was unharmed. At the time of the crash, he had been the fourth fastest in the session.
Palou Poised for Another Strong Qualifying and Race
Palou aims to secure his second consecutive pole at Mid-Ohio and his third pole of the current NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign during today’s NTT P1 Award qualifying session, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. The 90-lap Honda Indy 200 race follows tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, where Palou’s consistent podium finishes and previous victories position him as a favorite to extend his successful run on this technical road course.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did McLaren sue Alex Palou over $47.5 million contract dispute?
A. McLaren breaks a 26-year title wait. After this weekend’s Daytona 24-hour race, three-time IndyCar champ Alex Palou will fly to London. He’s attending mediation with McLaren, who is suing him for over $47.5 million due to a contract breach.