By: Spencer Neff
August 26, 2023

Practice 1 Results

As he looks to continue an historic run on ovals, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden would lead the 60-minute opening practice at Worldwide Technology Raceway.

Looking for a 2023 oval sweep and a fourth consecutive victory at the 1.25-mile oval, the four-time Gateway winner posted a best lap of 180.040 mph (24.9944). He was the lone driver to post a lap in the sub-25 second bracket.

Newgarden’s teammate Scott McLaughlin, who has finished fourth and third in his first two races at Gateway made it a 1-2 for Team Penske. Making his final scheduled appearance of the season, 2019 race winner Takuma Sato was third for Chip Ganassi Racing, the lone Honda in the Top Six.

2018 race winner and four-time Gateway pole winner Will Power joined his Penske teammates in fourth. Arrow McLaren drivers Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi completed a Top Six lockout by Chevrolet-powered entries.

Teammate Pato O’Ward (178.913-25.1519) did post the best lap during the pair of 10-minute “high-line”sessions later in the evening. Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian’s Colton Herta was fastest during the opening stint (176.004-25.5676).

Sato did encounter a brief slip-up in Turn 4, narrowly brushing the outside retaining wall. With less than 10 minutes remaining, the driver of the No. 11 brought out the caution for less than 3 minutes.

A few minutes after, McLaughlin spun in Turn 2. His teammate Power went to the outside and smacked the wall. Power’s car limped down the backstretch and made heavy contact with Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Points leader Alex Palou was 14th of 28 cars in his Chip Ganassi Racing entry. Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing’s Sting Ray Robb was 15th, best among the four drivers making their first INDYCAR start here./

Up Next

Here is the current on-track schedule for the weekend at Worldwide Technology Raceway Gateway. Stay with INDYCAR1909 for the latest on the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

10:00 – 11:00 am NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifications (60 minutes)

2:35 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps, 325 miles).

Header Image By INDYCAR