Team Penske is the recent dominator of oval races in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, winning 10 of the last 13 circle-track events since the start of the 2022 season.
But the ovalmeisters may have company near the top of the time sheets Saturday, Aug. 17 during the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway, if testing Aug. 1 on the 1.25-mile oval in the shadow of St. Louis’ Gateway Arch is any indication.
It was a busy day of private testing Thursday as NTT INDYCAR SERIES engines roared to life after a week of the Olympic break, as a combined nine drivers from Andretti Global, Arrow McLaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing tested at WWTR, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing looked toward the future with a single-car test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
While times and speeds were not officially released from private tests, various media reports and social media feeds have given an opportunity to try to make some itemized deductions:
Andretti Trio Leads Pack at WWTR
A combination of veterans and rookies conducted private testing at WWTR in advance of the next race on the schedule, Aug. 17 at the 1.25-mile circuit, and Andretti Global was the clear leader.
Drivers from Michael Andretti’s team took the top three spots on the time sheet, with Toronto winner Colton Herta setting the pace in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Kyle Kirkwood was only .020 of a second behind in his No. 27 AutoNation Honda, with Marcus Ericsson third, just .077 behind Herta, in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda.
“I always enjoy coming back here,” Ericsson said. “It’s been pretty good for me in the past. It’s an oval, but it drives a bit like a road course, for some reason.
“What I really like with this track is that the two ends are very different. It’s a completely different driving technique and feeling and balance in (Turns) 1-2 compared to (Turns) 3-4. So, it requires quite a bit from the setup but also from you as a driver. I enjoy that challenge.”
While no team can compare to Penske’s recent success on circle tracks, Andretti’s oval program is starting to shape up. Herta won the NTT P1 Award for the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart on July 13 at Iowa, his first career pole on an oval. Kirkwood and Ericsson both finished in the top 10 at that race, and Herta led 86 laps. Herta then finished fifth the next day in the Hy-Vee OneStep 250 presented by Gatorade.
Rookies Get Taste of WWTR
Rookies Kyffin Simpson of Chip Ganassi Racing, Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing and Nolan Siegel of Arrow McLaren all tested to prepare for their first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start at WWTR. Fellow rookie Linus Lundqvist, who raced last year at WWTR as part of his late-season call-up to the INDYCAR SERIES, also tested.
Simpson was the quickest of the first-year drivers, .310 of a second behind Herta’s session-leading lap. Simpson and Siegel both took the most advantage of the track time that extended into the early evening, as they both turned a test-high 240 laps despite hot, sticky weather.
Extra Work Ahead for Juncos Hollinger, ECR
There’s no room for error in oval racing or testing, and Juncos Hollinger Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing were reminded of that again Thursday.
Media reports indicated Romain Grosjean of JHR and rookie Rasmussen of ECR both crashed in separate incidents on the tricky, asymmetrical oval.
But time is on both teams’ side, as the next race isn’t for two weeks.
RLL Takes Look at Maloney at IMS
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has a confirmed open seat for 2025 with the announcement RLL standout Christian Lundgaard is joining Arrow McLaren starting next season.
Formula 2 race winner Juri Vips is still working with the team after competing with it for the final two races of last season, but RLL also took a look at another F2 veteran, Zane Maloney, during private testing Thursday on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.
Maloney turned 88 laps in steamy conditions in Central Indiana. His quickest trip around the circuit came on his 85th lap, a good sign of his acclimatization to the INDYCAR SERIES machinery.
Barbados native Maloney, 20, is fourth in the F2 standings this season with two victories for Rodin Motorsport.