IndyCar’s second practice session around the new Markham street course took place Saturday afternoon.
Very quickly, times tumbled on account of the grip that has been building up throughout the day. Alex Palou’s best time from the morning was soon overtaken by new fast laps.
The quick laps came even though all drivers stayed on the harder compound for most of the session.
Fastest of all was Louis Foster, whose best time was 1:14.1793. The sophomore driver praised the track as one of his favorites, then showed he has pace here as well.
Marcus Ericsson was second quick, just over one hundredth of a second off Foster’s pace. With a nearly identical time was David Malukas, who was third on the timesheets.
Pato O’Ward was the first driver to collect a bit of damage when his #5 Arrow McLaren Chevy stepped out in Turn 7.
He broke some suspension pieces and the rear wing, but was able to continue back to the pits on his own and was able to turn more laps later in the session.
Will Power suffered a larger hit, however, and ripped both right side wheels off his car by clipping the barriers at Turn 10 in the first major crash at the new circuit.
A slight misjudgment over the bump entering that corner’s braking zone is all that it took to suffer a damaging hit.
Power’s Andretti Global crew will have a busy time getting the #26 ready for qualifying in three hours’ time.
Caio Collet also suffered a small bit of damage when he brushed against the wall in Turn 10, but his should be a relatively easy repair.
Next up is a full knockout qualifying session, which is scheduled for 6:30 PM eastern time.
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