Following a couple week break, the NTT IndyCar Series returned to action by lapping the iconic street course in Long Beach, CA.
Drivers first took to the track on Friday afternoon, following a couple practice sessions from IMSA, which shares the same track this weekend.
At the start of the session, Team Penske looked to have the fastest cars straight off the truck.
They set the best times early in the afternoon, but were quickly overtaken by Alex Palou and his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
The Penske veterans stormed back to the top at the end of the run, however, utilizing the softer compound Firestone tires on their way back up the timesheets.
Will Power set the fastest single time, completing a lap of the street course in 1:07.3227.
Marcus Ericsson was second fastest, followed closely by his Andretti Global team-mate Kyle Kirkwood.
Marcus Armstrong was fourth fastest, representing Meyer Shank Racing near the top of the charts. Josef Newgarden set the fifth fastest time, giving Team Penske two drivers in the top five.
The rookie Robert Shwartzman turned the most laps of any driver, completing 31 laps around the seaside course.
He will have been pleased to start the weekend off on a solid note, after he and his PREMA team had to battle back from a car fire early in the weekend last time out at The Thermal Club.
Finding the limit
Pato O’Ward completed fewer laps than he wanted on account of a run-in with the dangerous concrete barriers.
The popular Mexican driver was a little heavy on the throttle coming out of the final hairpin corner, which slid the rear of his car wide and broke the left rear toe link.
The Arrow McLaren crew was able to make quick repairs on pit lane, but discovered that a section of the driveshaft was broken as well.
O’Ward ultimately was only able to turn two more laps before the session was over, hampering his Friday timeline.
There were many other close calls with the concrete walls that line the 1.97-mile temporary course, but no other damage was done.
A couple drivers locked up while traversing the tricky bump in the braking zone for Turn 9, leading to multiple flick-spins in order to free themselves from the runoff area.
Louis Foster had trouble spinning his car around, however, and needed assistance from the trackside safety crew. A short red flag was deployed, but the session was completed under green immediately after.
Drivers return to the track Saturday morning for a second practice session, ahead of qualifying later that afternoon.
