By: Spencer Neff
March 23, 2024

Practice 3 Results Combined Practice Results

Continuing his fill-in role with Arrow McLaren, Callum Ilott topped the leaderboard on Saturday morning. During the third of four planned Open Test sessions on the 2.067-mile, 17-turn permanent road course, the Cambridge, England native posted a best lap of 1m38.7784 (111.777 mph).

He is filling after an off-season wrist injury sidelined David Malukas.

Following Ilott’s Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou was second. The leader of both the morning and afternoon sessions of Friday’s test was the best among the Honda contingent, .0524 of a second back. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard was third, with Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and Ilott’s teammate Pato O’ Ward bookending the Top Five.

Despite a relatively calm Friday, Saturday morning would not be the same story.

The first major stoppage of the weekend occurred when the curbing in Turn 5 was beginning to wear. A lengthy red flag was deployed and the session was extended by 10 minutes.

Later on, Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Romain Grosjean spun between Turns 16 and 17 after braking issues.

With less than 45 minutes remaining, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood spun into the gravel trap in Turn 8 before making contact with the steel barrier, sustaining rear wing damage. The Jupiter, Florida native did make it back on track prior to the end of the session.

Up Next

Here is the remaining weekend schedule for this weekend at the Thermal Club. Stay with IndyCar1909 for the latest on this weekend’s $1 million Challenge.

At-track schedule (All Times Local):

Saturday, March 23

1-3 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Open Test, Peacock

5 p.m. – $1 Million Challenge heat race qualifying (two groups / 8 minutes each), Peacock

Sunday, March 24

9:24 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 1 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

9:30 a.m. – NBC on air

9:31 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 1 (10 laps / 30.67 miles / 20 minutes / Top 6 advance to Sprint for the Purse), NBC

9:58 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 2 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

10:05 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 2 (10 laps / 30.67 miles / 20 minutes/ Top 6 advance to Sprint for the Purse), NBC

10:52 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Sprint for the Purse “Drivers, start your engines”

10:59 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Sprint for the Purse (Two 10-lap segments with 10-minute halftime after Lap 10), NBC (Live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

· The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge will be the first non-championship NTT INDYCAR SERIES race since 2008. With a total payout of over $1.7 million, it is the largest non-Indy 500 purse for an INDYCAR SERIES event in over two decades. More information on the weekend format can be found HERE. There have been 10 INDYCAR SERIES exhibition races held since 1946, including the Marlboro Challenge All-Star race, which was held by CART from 1987-1992.

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR