INDIANAPOLIS — After passing a medical examination on Thursday and following Friday’s practice session, Josef Newgarden’s “all-clear” status has extended onto the race course.
The Team Penske driver was the fastest in Saturday morning’s IndyCar warm-up session for Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Newgarden’s best speed was 123.793 mph around the 14-turn. 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
A.J. Foyt Racing rookie Kyle Kirkwood was second in another Chevrolet at 123.686 mph I the No. 14. Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was third at 123.612 mph.
Andretti Autosport driver Alexander Rossi was fourth at 123.576 mph in the No. 27 Honda at 123.576 mph.
Another Andretti Autosport driver, Colton Herta, was fifth at 123.575 mph.
NTT IndyCar Series points leader Marcus Ericsson, who had an engine data issue in Friday’s qualifications, was 11th quick at 123.452 mph. He starts last in the 25-car field because he brought out the red flag for his stopped car in the first segment of qualifications but plans on flipping the field through strategy and hard racing.
Kirkwood and Dalton Kellett were the only drivers in the warmup that used Firestone Red tires in the session, which may mean plenty of drivers are saving the faster tires for the race.
The Gallagher Grand Prix is at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the NBC telecast at 12 noon, ET.