Twenty-seven NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers had a lot to learn Friday at Iowa Speedway, and they had a short time to do it.
Friday’s 90-minute practice was the lone such session of the weekend as the series prepares for a pair of points-paying races: the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET and the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade on Sunday at noon ET.
Both races will air live on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
SEE: Practice Results
The drivers spent Friday learning how to navigate the track’s freshly paved corners that have made lap times significantly quicker. Additionally, there are nuances to using INDYCAR’s new hybrid technology for the first time on an oval track. The energy recovery system made its series debut last week at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a road course race won by Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.
Finally, there is an adaption to Firestone’s right-side tire compound that is different than what the field tested at the .894-mile short oval last month. And if that wasn’t enough, INDYCAR mandated a 10 percent reduction in downforce that has teams trying new chassis setups.
It added up to an adventurous practice, with no less than six drivers having tense moments, most in the latter part of the session.
The car of Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson took right-side damage after he lost control of the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda in Turn 3. The impact was first with the right rear, then with the right front. The winner of the 2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge was not injured, but the accident happened on just his fourth lap of practice, which meant he won’t get another lap until Saturday’s qualifying session.
“Really strange,” Ericsson said of losing control. “I was so comfortable … a massive setback.”
Katherine Legge also had to scramble at that end of the track. Her No. 51 e.l.f. Cosmetics Honda of Dale Coyne Racing was passing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda driven by Christian Lundgaard in Turn 4 when the car began to slide. The driver who last raced at this track in 2012 was able to keep the car off the wall, preventing damage.
Santino Ferrucci saw his No. 14 AJ FOYT RACING/SEXTON PROPERTIES Chevrolet push nearly to the wall in Turn 4. Moments later, Agustin Canapino lost control of his No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet in Turn 2 while following Will Power in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Neither car touched the wall.
Returning to pit road, Canapino took light contact from Scott Dixon and his No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Dixon said he mistook Canapino for the team’s sister car, driven by Romain Grosjean, and didn’t realize Canapino was pitting. Again, neither car took significant damage.
Finally, as the session was ending, Scott McLaughlin spun his No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet off Turn 4 as Legge did. He, too, got away without damaging the car.
“That proves to kids growing up, like don’t give up if you’re spinning,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said he lost control as a result of trying the outside lane, a part of the track where the older surface doesn’t have as much grip. That’s also where excess tire rubber builds up, he said, something all drivers will have to watch for in the races to come.
McLaughlin finished with the session’s fastest lap at 185.891 mph. He will be one of the drivers trying to break Helio Castroneves’ track-record speed of 186.809 mph set in 2014 when NTT P1 Award qualifying is held Saturday at 3:45 p.m. ET (Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network).
Each car-and-driver combination will get two timed laps, the first lap determining the starting position for Race 1 and the second establishing grid position for Race 2.
Other drivers to watch are series leader Alex Palou, who had the second-fastest lap in Friday’s practice in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and O’Ward, who drives the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. They turned laps of 185.536 and 184.154 mph, respectively.
David Malukas (No. 66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda of Meyer Shank Racing) and Alexander Rossi (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) rounded out Friday’s top five at 184.112 and 183.784 mph.
Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Hitachi Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet) won both of these races last year. His quickest lap Friday ranked 15th at 181.511 mph.