ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Second-year Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin ran the only lap less than 60 seconds in Saturday morning’s practice session for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg NTT IndyCar Series race.
McLaughlin, a star driver from the Australian Supercars Championship before moving to IndyCar in 2021, ran a lap at 59.7342 seconds around the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street course on Florida’s Tampa Bay.
“The Chevy feels really great and we are working really well with engineer Ben Bretzman,” McLaughlin said.
Defending Firestone Grand Prix St. Petersburg winner Colton Herta was second at 1:00.0851 in the No. 26 Honda followed by Meyer-Shank Racing’s Simon Pagenaud at 1:00.0853. Andretti Autosport driver Alexander Rossi was fourth at 1:00.1075 and Team Penske driver Will Power was fifth at 1:00.1600 in the No. 3 Chevrolet.
Power is a nine-time St. Petersburg pole winner and two-time race winner.
Second-year NTT IndyCar Series driver Jimmie Johnson of Chip Ganassi Racing spun off course early in practice, his second spin in as many days on the street course.
The practice was red flagged with 20 minutes remaining when Jack Harvey slammed his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda into the wall. Harvey’s Honda was put on the hook and that was the end of the session for the HyVee Honda.
Another red flag stopped practice when Grosjean slammed into the back of Takuma Sato’s Honda entering turn 10. At the same time Jimmie Johnson spun his Honda in turn eight and stalled his car.
With 5:25 left, defending NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou stuffed his No. 10 NTT Data Honda into the wall to bring out the red flag and stop practice.
“I came in too close to the wall,” Palou said. “It’s the same corner as yesterday. I didn’t think I was so close to the exit, but we have to get the car back on the track for qualifying.”