Stats: Practice Results

Rookie Scott McLaughlin led practice Saturday for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, taking the top spot in the final moments of the 75-minute session at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

McLaughlin’s best lap was 1 minute, 10.8755 seconds in the No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. It was the first time he has led an official session in his first season of INDYCAR SERIES racing. McLaughlin could clinch NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year honors this weekend, a first for a Team Penske driver.

Up next is NTT P1 Award qualifying, live on Peacock Premium at 5:05 p.m. (ET).

2019 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey winner Colton Herta was second quickest in practice at 1:11.0224 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Championship leader Alex Palou was third at 1:11.0312 in the No. 10 NTT Data Honda.

Simon Pagenaud ended up fourth at 1:11.3381 in the No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet, while Will Power helped Team Penske take three of the top five spots by rounding out the top five at 1:11.3936 in the No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet.

Among the other four drivers eligible for the Astor Challenge Cup as series champion, Josef Newgarden ended up 10th at 1:11.6116 in the No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet after leading practice Friday. Marcus Ericsson was 12th at 1:11.7162 in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon was 18th at 1:12.0952 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda. Pato O’Ward, 14th in practice Friday, continued to struggle in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, ending up 20th at 1:12.1348.

Two red flags cut track time by nearly 20 minutes during the 45-minute session.

Twelve minutes were lost early in the session due to a crash involving Dalton Kellett in the No. 4 K-Line Insulators/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. Kellett lost control of his car and hit the tire barrier in Turn 4, inflicting damage to the right side and rear of the car. Kellett climbed from the car and was unhurt.

With 11 minutes left, Rinus VeeKay spun off and crashed in the No. 21 Sonax/Autogeek Chevrolet in nearly the same spot as Kellett. VeeKay also was unhurt. The ensuing red flag lasted seven minutes, with a traffic jam of cars entering the racetrack for a furious final four minutes of activity.

Live coverage of the 95-lap race starts at 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday on NBC, Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network.