INDIANAPOLIS — Colton Herta, the 2022 Sonsio Grand Prix winner, was the fastest driver on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in Friday morning’s first practice session for the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series race.
Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda’s best lap around the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 1:09.2863. He drives for Andretti Global.
Agustin Canapino of Juncos Hollinger Racing was second at 1:09.3713 in the No. 78 Chevrolet. Will Power of Team Penske was third at 1:09.3930 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet followed by Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay’s 1:09.4194 in the No 21 Chevrolet and Marcus Ericsson’s 1:09.4686.
“I’m already happy with the way this season has gone, but we want more,” Canapino said after his second-fastest effort. “I’m learning all the time. I’m learning a lot. I need more time, but I am starting to understand the tire and the pressure of the brake.”
At the end of the session, Arrow McLaren’s Theo Pourchaire had a fuel pressure issue.
Honda had three engine issues in the first session including Marcus Armstrong’s engine catching on fire on pit lane that brought out the third red flag of the session. The other driver with an issue was Graham Rahal.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden spun into the grass out of turn 14 16 minutes into the session to bring out the red flag. By causing a red flag stoppage, Newgarden and the No. 2 crew were penalized five minutes in the practice session, per IndyCar rules.
Later in the session, Graham Rahal’s No. 15 Honda came to a halt at the pit exit to bring out another red flag.
Both Armstrong and Rahal have having to change new Honda engines, which will be costly later in the season when their respective teams exceed the maximum of five engines per season before incurring an unapproved engine penalty.
Another practice session is schedule in the afternoon with qualifications wrapping up the day’s activity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.