By: Spencer Neff
May 12,2023
This morning saw the first on-track session for the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In preparation for tomorrow’s GMR Grand Prix, Friday began with a 75-minute practice.
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward would lead the way, posting a best lap of 1m09.4981 (126.340 mph) on there 2.438-mile 14-turn permanent road Cours in Speedway, Indiana.
Finishing a mere .0007 of a second behind was Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard. Lundgaard, the fastest Honda behind O’Ward’s Chevrolet, earned his first podium with a runner-up finish in July’s IMS Road Course race, his best INDYCAR finish to date.
Now with Arrow McLaren, August’s winner Alexander Rossi finished 17th in the running order. Other notables included points leader Marcus Ericsson in eighth and Rookie of the Year leader Marcus Armstrong in 11th, both of whom compete for Chip Ganassi Racing.
2022 race winner Colton Herta suffered an oil leak which lead to a brief fire on pit lane after completing his installation lap.
Herta was one of a handful of drivers who encountered mechanical gremlins during the opening practice. Josef Newgarden and Santino Ferrucci. Despite a strong repair effort, the No. 26 tam was unable to return on track to record an official lap at speed.
This afternoon’s finishing order will determine the groups to open the split first round of qualifying.
Up Next
Here is the schedule for the remainder of the GMR Grand Prix weekend. IndyCar1909 is on-site at IMS and will have updates throughout the month of May. Stay with us and our social media channels.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 12 (All times are local)=
11-11:50 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, INDYCAR LIVE
1-2 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (45 minutes), Peacock
2:20-2:40 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, INDYCAR LIVE
4 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockoutqualifications), Peacock
SATURDAY, MAY 13
11:15-11:45 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock
1:05 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
1:10 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix (35 laps/55 minutes), Peacock
3:30 p.m. NBC on air
3:39 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines”
3:45 p.m. GMR Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), NBC (Live)
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