Scott McLaughlin in the No.3 Good Ranchers Team Penske Chevrolet was the pacesetter on the opening day of track action ahead of Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca setting a 01:07.6325s ending the day just ahead of Colton Herta in the No.26 Gainbridge Honda who set a time of 01:07.7316s. Speaking to Paddock Eye following practice about the fact that the race at WeatherTech Raceway is earlier than last year he said:

I’d say typically. But it’s a pretty cool weekend this weekend. It’s not going to get too hot. I don’t think it will look too different to what we have weather-wise later in the year. Maybe cloud cover is a little bit less at this time of year. Overall temperature seems similar.

I don’t expect weather to play too much of a role this weekend.

Alex Palou was third fastest for Chip Ganassi Racing in the No.10 DHL Honda while Josef Newgarden was fourth fastest in the No.2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet who set a 01:07.8805s.

Pietro Fittipaldi in the No.30 RLL Honda was fifth fastest with a time of 01:08.0025s just ahead of Pato O’Ward who set a 01:08.0090s for Arrow McLaren while Kyle Kirkwood was seventh for Andretti Global just ahead of Alexander Rossi and Marcus Armstrong while Team Penske’s Will Power in the No.12 Verizon Business Chevrolet who rounded out the top ten.

Christian Lundgaard was 11th just ahead of Marcus Ericsson and Agustin Canapino while Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen and Rinus VeeKay were 14th and 15th respectively.

Romain Grosjean was 16th just ahead of Graham Rahal while last year’s race winner Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was 18th with a time of 01:08.4801s just ahead of Santino Ferrucci in the No.14 Sexton Properties AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. Kyffin Simpson rounded out the top twenty just ahead of Linus Lindqvist and Sting Ray Robb.

Felix Rosenqvist and Jack Harvey were 23rd and 24th respectively while in his first outing for Meyer Shank Racing David Malukas was 25th just ahead of Luca Ghiotto and Nolan Siegel.

 

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