By: Spencer Neff
April 19, 2024

Practice 1 Results

Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward was fastest during Friday’s opening practice for Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. O’Ward turned a best lap of 1m06.6874 (106.239 mph) on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn street circuit.

O’Ward, who has a career-best finish of fifth at this venue in 2022, led a trio of Chevrolets atop the scoring pylon. Team Penske’s Will Power, winner in 2008 and 2012 at Long Beach was second and teammate Scott McLaughlin was third.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist was best among the Hondas in third as St. Petersburg winner Josef Newgarden joined his Penske teammates in the Top 5.

Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen was one spot behind 2023 Long Beach winner Kyle KKirkwood in 10th, best among the rookies. Théo Pourchaire, who makes his debut for Arrow McLaren as substitute for David Malukas, was 21st.

After a 45-minute session reserved for all 27 entries, the field was split between odd-numbered and even-numbered pit boxes for alternating 10-minute sessions.

Less than a minute before the scheduled completion of that first phase, Kyffin Simpson stalled after going off-course near Turn 9.

The Chip Ganassi Racing rookie stalled but was able to get assistance in continuing on. Simpson would stall for a second time with less than two minutes remaining in the session, prompting a second red flag in the same area.

Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing’s Nolan Siegel, who makes his official series debut this weekend, also stalled in the runoff adjacent to Turn 9 but continued on.

Up Next

Here is the remaining weekend schedule for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. IndyCar1909.com will have recaps of each on-track session and updates on social media.

At-track schedule (all times local-Pacific):

Saturday, April 20

8:25-9:25 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45-minute session), Peacock (live)

11:25 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock (live)

Sunday, April 21

9-9:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock (live)

Noon – Driver introductions

Noon – USA Network on air

12:38 p.m. – Start engines command

12:45 p.m. – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (85 laps/167.28 miles), USA Network and Peacock(live)

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR