It’s time for the second Practise session of the weekend in Portland, which began just like the previous one: with the Envision drivers posting the best early benchmarks in 1:10.480s. Yesterday the duo had been among the fastest in terms of race pace simulations, but had coasted at the bottom of the timings for FP1.
Mitch Evans is the first driver to run wide in the grass at the first chicane, running over the kerbs as well. Traffic gets crazier at the starting line as more and more cars get on track, with the first red flag of the session issued ten minutes into the session as Sacha Fenestraz lost the car at Turn 10. His teammate for the weekend Caio Collet has stopped on track as well, with what might turn out to be an electric issue.
Cars returned on track with 15 minutes left on the clock as the session is extended for 5 more. Frijns holds the lead with a 1:09.430s, but Jake Dennis is the first driver to improve after the restart, jumping up to P2 ahead of Buemi.
Photo credist: Porsche
Cassidy gets airborne just like his teammate previously, speeding on kerbs. With 15 minutes in the clock Bird, Mortara and Hughes hold the top spots. Track evolution is however significant at this point, with Cassidy and Da Costa as well cycling at the lead.
De Vries runs over the kerbs and goes wide off track in the grass at the first chicane as well, meanwhile Günther ends up in the runway. That spot will be one to watch for both Qualifying and the races to come.
With ten minutes to go, the Porsche driver’s 1:08.78s is still enough to hold on to the top spot, with FP1 leader Norman Nato the only other driver in the 1:08s and Cassidy to wrap up the podium.
De Vries has yet another moment over the kerbs in which he damages his front wing, whereas Ticktum gets into the top 5 and Collet jumps up to P12. Fenestraz’s Nissan is still undergoing front suspension fixings.
Definitely not pleased with their performance of the day will be DS Penske, with drivers Vandoorne and Vergne in P19 and 21 respectively.
During the final set of flying laps Dennis runs wide at the chicane, but no one improved enough thus allowing the Andretti driver to hold on to his P4. It was a very strong performance from Collet however, as he slots in P5.
The top 5 for FP2 features Da Costa, Nato, Cassidy, Dennis and Collet.Tune in in an hour and a half for Qualifying!
