By: Spencer Neff
July 5, 2024

Practice 1 Results

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou began his quest for a second win in as many NTT INDYCAR SERIES races by leading Friday’s 75-minute opening practice at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Palou, who also won this race in 2023, notched a best lap of 1m07.o65 (121.208 mph) on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course. Following Palou’s Honda was the Chevrolet entry of Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi, .4443 of a second back.

Palou’s teammate Marcus Armstrong, last year’s pole winner Colton Herta of Andretti Global and 2022 Mid-Ohio winner Scott McLaughlin from Team Penske would round out the Top Five.

CGR would also boast the session’s best-performing rookie as Kyffin Simpson was 13th among the 27-car field.

Just over 25 minutes into the session, the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing entry of Agustin Canapino began to slow. His Chevrolet-powered entry would stall between Turns 3 and 4, prompting the first red flag of the weekend.

The session resumed under green flag conditions following a stoppage of more than 10 minutes.

Shortly after the return to green, Marcus Armstrong spun off course, stopping the Turn 9 grass. That stoppage lasted less than five minutes but rain around the track limited activity during the waning minutes of the session.

Three entries receive grid penalties

Prior to the start of the weekend, INDYCAR announced that the No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing (Marcus Armstrong), No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Pietro Fittipaldi) and No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing (Felix Rosenqvist) entries will be assessed six-place grid penalties for unapproved engine changes following the June 27 test at Iowa Speedway.

Per the series’ press release:

“The teams were in violation of:

Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5^th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5^th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.

According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid Sunday, July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course”

Up Next

Here is the remaining schedule for this weekend at Mid-Ohio. Stay with IndyCar1909 and our social media platforms for the latest from the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

At-track schedule (all times local): SATURDAY, JULY 6 9:40-10:25 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, INDYCAR Live 10:50-11:50 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes of green flag or 60 total minutes), Peacock 2:05-2:35 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12 minutes each), INDYCAR Live 3-4:30 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock SUNDAY, JULY 7 10:25-10:55 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, Peacock 11:20 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio command to start engines 11:25 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (35 laps/55 minutes), Peacock 1:05 p.m. – Driver introductions 1:46 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid command to start engines 1:53 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid (80 laps/180.64 miles), NBC (live)

Header Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR