Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta in the No.26 Gainbeidge Honda was fastest in first practice for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a time of 01:07.5382s ending the session just ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi.
Speaking following the action, Herta said:
We didn’t get to do a proper run. “I think some of the teammates did, which is a good thing for me at least to understand what they do and how we can make the car a little bit better.
“But it’s really close. I feel really happy with how everything is. It’s a good-looking race car this weekend, and I hope to try to make it to Victory Lane with it.”
Marcus Ericsson was fourth fastest for Chip Ganassi Racing at 01:07.7913s, ending up just ahead of Kyle Kirkwood. At the same time, Juri Vips was sixth for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing despite being told to shut off the engine.
Graham Rahal was seventh in the IPacket Honda with a time of 01:07.9515s, ending the day just ahead of Callum Ilott, while Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was ninth just ahead of Rinus Veekay. Tom Blomqvist had a great session in 11th place for Meyer Shank Racing, just ahead of champion Alex Palou.
Will Power crashed heavily during the session in the No.12 Verizon 5G Team Chevrolet who was 13th just ahead of Ryan Hunter Reay and new McLaren signing David Malukas while Scott McLaughlin who also went off track was 16th just ahead of Santino Ferrucci and Romain Grosjean who crashed heavily in the No.28 DHL Honda. Felix Rosenqist was 19th just ahead of Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden while Marcus Armstrong was 21st, just ahead of Benjamin Pedersen.
Devlin DeFrancesco was 23rd just ahead of Helio Castroneves while Christian Lundgaard was 25th just ahead of Agustin Canapino and Sting Ray Robb.