Will Power Sets the Pace in Long Beach Grand Prix Opening Practise
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Will Power, the two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, surged to the top of the leaderboard in the opening practice session for the 50th Acura Grand prix of Long Beach on Friday. Under sunny skies, power clocked a fastest lap of 1 minute, 7.3227 seconds in his No.12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet around the 1.968-mile temporary street circuit.
Power Focused on Qualifying After Strong Practice Run
Power’s fastest lap came late in the 80-minute session, utilizing the alternate, softer Firestone tires. “It was pretty good,” Power said. “Definitely resolute to get qualifying right… It’s going to be really tight.” He aims to improve his qualifying performance after struggling in recent races.
Tight Field Shows Competitive Landscape at long Beach
The top five drivers in the practice session were separated by a mere 0.0648 of a second, foreshadowing a fierce battle for the pole position during Saturday’s qualifying. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, finished second with a time of 1:07.3503 in his No. 28 Bryant Honda for Andretti Global. Completing the top three was Kyle Kirkwood, the 2023 Long Beach winner at 1:07.3523, also driving for Andretti Global in the No. 27 PreFab Honda.
Meyer Shank Racing Shows strength; Palou Seventh
Meyer Shank Racing demonstrated strong pace, with marcus Armstrong fourth (1:07.3602) and Felix Rosenqvist, the 2024 Long Beach pole winner, fifth (1:07.3875). Alex Palou, the reigning series champion and winner of the first two races this season, finished seventh with a time of 1:07.5306 in his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Minor Setbacks for Power and O’Ward During Practice
Despite his leading time, Power experienced an early issue with his rear brakes, causing him to spin into a runoff area.He was able to continue without any damage. Pato O’Ward made left-side contact with the wall exiting the hairpin turn, damaging a left-rear toe link on his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. He returned to the track briefly after repairs.
Looking Ahead: Qualifying and Race Schedule
the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will return to the track Saturday for another practice session at 11:30 a.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET. The 90-lap Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Q: How does a street circuit like Long Beach differ from a traditional racetrack,and what challenges does that present for drivers?
Long Beach Grand Prix: Your Burning questions Answered
Following Will Power’s impressive opening practice session at the Long Beach Grand Prix,here’s a speedy Q&A to keep you informed!
Q: Who is Will Power,and why is his performance significant?
A: Will Power is a two-time INDYCAR SERIES champion.His top performance in the practice session, setting the fastest lap time, shows he is a strong contender. Look for him to push hard in Qualifying to improve his recent struggles.
Q: What are “alternate” tires, and why are they important?
A: Alternate tires (softer Firestone tires) offer more grip, allowing drivers to set faster lap times. Power used them late in the session, demonstrating his ability to extract maximum performance from them!
Q: What does it mean that the field is “tight”?
A: It means the top drivers are very close in lap times. The top five were separated by less than a tenth of a second, indicating a very competitive race ahead.
Q: Who are some other drivers to watch?
A: Keep an eye on Marcus Ericsson (2022 Indianapolis 500 winner), Kyle Kirkwood (2023 Long Beach winner), Marcus Armstrong, Felix Rosenqvist (2024 Long beach pole winner) and Alex Palou (reigning series champion). Their performances in the practice session suggest they’ll be in the mix.
Q: What happened during the practice session?
A: Will Power had a minor brake issue, and Pato O’ward made contact with the wall. These incidents show the challenges and risks of street circuit racing.
Q: What’s the schedule for the rest of the weekend?
A: There’s another practice session Saturday morning, followed by qualifying. The race itself is on Sunday afternoon.
Q: Any captivating trivia?
A: This year marks the 50th Acura Grand Prix of long Beach - a testament to the event’s legacy and popularity. It’s a must-watch event for racing fans.
Stay tuned for qualifying and the race! Power’s strong start shows the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is shaping up to be an exciting battle of speed and strategy!
