By: Spencer Neff
April 17, 2026
Andretti Global’s Will Power led the way during Friday afternoon’s opening practice for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Power, who has won twice (2008 and 2012) and earned three poles (2009-2011) on the 1.968-mile, 11-turrn street circuit in California, posted a best lap of 1m07.6053 (104.797 mph)
Following Power’s Honda was Scott McLauughlin’s Team Penske Chevrolet, .1861 of a second back of Power. In third was Power’s teammate, Kyle Kirkwood. The current NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader, Kirkwood. has won two of the last three races from the pole at Long Beach.
Honda would also obtain fourth and fifth in the session with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong.
In his first Long Beach INDYCAR appearance, Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger was best among the rookies in 17th.
Less than 10 minutes after the “all-skate” portion of the session began, rookie Mick Schumacher stalled in Turn 3. The Rahal Letterman Lanigian Racing driver’s Nop. 47 was towed back to pit lane and shortly thereafter pushed to the garage area.
During the last of a pair of sessions that split up the field, McLaughlin lost downshifting ability before he slid into Turn 9 and mad contact with the inside tire barriers. After the ensuing red flag, he climbed from his car unscathed and was released from the INDYCAR Medical Unit shortly thereafter.
Aside from a brief debris caution, those incidents were the lone stoppages of the session.
Up Next
Here is the remaining on-track schedule for the weekend. Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media platforms for the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
At-track schedule (all local times):
Friday, April 17
3:05-4:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (split group format), FS1 (live)
Saturday, April 18
10:35-11:55 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (split group format), FS2 (live)
3:30 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (two rounds of knockout qualifying followed by single-car Firestone Fast Six showdown), FS1 (live)
Sunday, April 19
10:10-10:40 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (live)
12:59 p.m. – Driver introductions
2:30 p.m. – FOX on air
2:50 p.m. – Start engines command
2:57 p.m. – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (90 laps/177.12 miles), FOX, FOX ONE, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network (live). Spanish telecast on FOX Deportes (live)
Header Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR
IndyCar1909.com 