A couple hours after the first test session, drivers for the NTT IndyCar Series took to the track again on Friday afternoon for another three hours of open test time.
The Thermal Club track was their playground as they worked with their teams to try out various different setups and strategies as they saw fit.
As track temperatures dropped towards the end of the session, lap times finally dropped below the ones set earlier in the morning.
The driver that topped the charts was once again Alex Palou, with the reigning champion backing up his performance from the previous session.
Palou lapped the winding course in 1 minute 39.3373 seconds, just a hair faster than his best time a couple hours before but nearly half a second ahead of everyone else in this session.
Felix Rosenqvist set the second fastest time, continuing his good relationship with his new Meyer Shank Racing team. Romain Grosjean was third fastest, also forging a strong relationship with his new team.
Rinus VeeKay and Christian Lundgaard were fourth and fifth, giving each a solid data point to work from for the rest of the weekend.
There was only one stoppage during the second test run, Christian Rasmussen being the cause. The rookie pulled his Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy to the side of the road and was towed back to the pits, but was able to return and run more laps later.
All 27 drivers struggled with grip throughout the afternoon, with cars sliding all around the course that was designed for private use by its wealthy club members.
A dark groove started to build up as Firestone rubber was worked into the tarmac, but the California sun heated the track beyond optimal temperatures.
Seemingly every couple minutes a driver was seen overshooting a braking zone or having to counter steer in order to catch a sliding rear end.
Very few actually spun, however, and a couple trips through the gravel were the biggest consequences felt in the afternoon session.
The slippery track was a factor in the high tire wear everyone experienced, and most drivers reported that times started to fall off significantly after just two or three laps.
Sunday’s feature event is 20 laps in length and tire changes will not be allowed, meaning whoever can conserve their grip levels the best could well leave with a hefty sum in their pockets.
Four more hours of testing are on tap for Saturday, followed by two groups of qualifying late in the evening.
