Full field practice
RLL have a fourth car out on track this weekend at Portland. Juri Vips returned to the cockpit following a couple of races last season.
Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas and Graham Rahal will all drop 6 spots on the grid on Sunday due to unapproved engine changes.
Toby Sowery returned to the Dale Coyne Racing and led in the early stages, setting a 1:01.1068 to lead the way inside the opening 8 minutes.
Ed Carpenter’s Rinus VeeKay logged a 1:00.0145 as the Dutchman almost broke the 60s mark at the 10-minute mark, fractionally quicker than Kyle Kirkwood. The Dutch driver went even quicker, pumping in a 59.1131 to break that 1-minute barrier. Kirkwood, Simpson and Vips were also in the 59s bracket at that point.
It was not the best start for Felix Rosenqvist. He had a small lock-up at turn 1 initially, and then on a push lap a couple of attempts later, both fronts locked and had to take to the run-off.
There was a hairy moment for Scott Dixon in the high speed chicane towards the end of the lap as he had a snap of oversteer. The Kiwi managed to save it and went through the tarmac run-off and rejoined.
A 59.0069 from Alexander Rossi saw the Arrow McLaren driver leading after 20 minutes, ahead of McLaughlin, VeeKay, Vips and Malukas. Power joined Rossi in the 59.0 club moments later, putting a 59.0920 on the board to go 2nd.
Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden understeered on to the grass at turn 5, with Santino Ferrucci recovering from a spin at turn 6 in separate incidents.
Into turn 1, Kyle Kirkwood had to use the run-off as Linus Lundqvist came out of the pits, causing the Andretti driver to take avoiding action. A couple of minutes later, he got deep at turn 1 and went airborne over the kerbs twice.
Session leader Alexander Rossi dropped it at turn 1, spinning around after losing the rear. Teammate Nolan Siegel understeered off at turn 6, taking to the grass like Rahal and Newgarden.
Rossi led Power, McLaughlin, VeeKay, Dixon, Palou, Vips, Malukas, Lundgaard and Rosenqvist with 15 minutes to go.
There was a hugely contentious moment. As Grosjean exited the pits, Graham Rahal was coming on a push lap but the JHR driver was at the apex of the corner. The RLL driver lost his head, deliberately making contact with the Frenchman’s car.
After jumping to the top with a 58.9262, Will Power had a huge moment. He lost the rear through turn 5, ending up on the grass in turn 6. He somehow avoided spinning, however.
There was another big moment for Newgarden at turn 6. He understeered wide, touching the grass but avoided any major incident as he saved it and kept it on the tarmac.
At the end of the first part of practice, Alexander Rossi pumped in a 58.6705, well clear of Power’s previous benchmark as he used the alternates. Herta, McLaughlin, VeeKay, Dixon, Lundgaard, Palou, Vips and Kirkwood completed the top 10.
Pato O’Ward and Josef Newgarden could only manage P15 and P16 as they struggled to match their respective teammates.
It was a difficult practice for Conor Daly as a fuel pressure problem meant he only ran 4 laps for Juncos Hollinger Racing.
Split Practice — Group 1
Scott McLaughlin went fastest in the 10-minute session. A 58.3669 right at the end saw him usurp Rossi’s best time from the full field session.
Palou, Power, Malukas, Fittipaldi, Grosjean, Newgarden, VeeKay, Rossi, Ericsson, Siegel, Kirkwood, Rasmussen, Simpson, Lundqvist and Vips completed the order in the first group. The rookies can run in both sessions.
Split Practice — Group 2
At turn 5, Graham Rahal took a trip through the grass as he had a lively rear in the final couple of minutes.
It was a great session for the Kiwis in Group 2. A 58.6095 from Marcus Armstrong saw him lead the way. Dixon completed a 1-2 for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Herta, O’Ward, Ferrucci, Rosenqvist, Lundgaard and Lundqvist also got into the 58s.
Vips, Robb, Rahal, Harvey, Rasmussen, Siegel and Simpson rounded out the order.
On the combined times, McLaughlin led Palou and Armstrong.
