Ryan Hunter-Reay improved from P10 in Friday’s first session, topping the final session of the day for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Hunter-Reay’s 1:05.1950 lap time bested Will Power, who recovered from a dangerous spin at the end of the first session to sit P2 only 1:05.1950 behind Hunter-Reay. Power will be looking to turn his luck around at Mid-Ohio, suffering a series of misfortunes through previous race weekends.
Spencer Pigot’s quick pace continued, moving up to P4 and maintained a string of strong practice performances over the past few races. Now, the goal will be to turn those into race results. He sat behind Graham Rahal, who is looking to impress at his home track. Alexander Rossi, Hunter-Reay's teammate and primary championship rival, was fifth fastest after running P10 in the first session.
The points lead battle fell down the charts, as Scott Dixon moved ahead of Josef Newgarden’s pace but with both father down the timetable. Dixon was seventh fastest, while defending Mid-Ohio winner Newgarden followed nearby in P9. The top 10 was rounded out by Jack Harvey, who is carrying the torch for Ohio native and team owner Michael Shank this weekend.
Robert Wickens got his first real Mid-Ohio session in, after succumbing to a vibration Friday morning and running off early. He posted the 13th fastest time, ahead of first session topper Sebastien Bourdais. With his own string of bad luck, Bourdais will be looking to find the pace that he lost for Saturday’s qualifying session.
All eyes are on Pietro Fittipaldi, who has been cleared to run the remainder of the Verizon IndyCar season after breaking both legs in a World Endurance Championship accident in May. He has remained consistent in his return to IndyCar action, running 17th fastest in first practice and 18th fastest in second as he eases back into the series.
