Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden in the No.2 Hitachi Chevrolet was the pacesetter as the action got underway at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Friday ahead of Sunday’s penultimate race of the season. The Tennessee-native set a time of 01:11.712s ending the session just ahead of Colton Herta who went off track while championship leader Alex Palou was third fastest.
It was a great session for Ed Jones who was fourth fastest with a 01:12.017s just ahead of Alexander Rossi and Oliver Askew while James Hinchcliffe was seventh in the No.29 Genesys Honda.
Jack Harvey was eighth just ahead of Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson who rounded out the top ten for Chip Ganassi Racing just ahead of his teammate Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Honda while Scott McLaughlin was 12th for Team Penske just ahead of Helio Castroneves who beached his Meyer Shank Racing Honda and ended the session just ahead of Pato O’Ward and Will Power while Felix Rosenqvist was 16th.
Graham Rahal was 17th just ahead of Sebastien Bourdais and Takuma Sato while Simon Pagenaud rounded out the top 20. Rinus VeeKay was 21st just ahead Ryan Hunter Reay and Conor Daly.
Jimmie Johnson was 24th just ahead of Max Chilton and Dalton Kellett while Callum Ilott rounded out the order.