Skip to content
https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
Alex Palou Powers Ahead to Lead Laguna Seca Practice Session
Highlights
- Alex Palou led first practice at Laguna Seca with fastest lap.
- Palou’s No. 10 Honda honors late champion Alex Zanardi.
- Felix Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward posted second and third fastest times.
- Santino Ferrucci crashed lightly; no injuries reported.
- Next practice Saturday 1 p.m. ET; qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Live coverage available on FOX One and INDYCAR Radio.
Alex Palou sets the benchmark in opening practice at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey.
The newly crowned five-time champion clocks 1:09.8994 in the No. 10 DHL Lightning Bolt Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, reinforcing momentum after his 2026 title coronation.
The livery honours Alex Zanardi, Ganassi’s late two-time champion, with the renamed Zanardi Corkscrew framing an emotional return to Palou’s most productive venue.
Palou calls Laguna Seca his preferred road course and, title secured, tackles the weekend without championship jeopardy.
His record here is formidable: since 2021, five starts, three wins, and no finishes outside the top three, plus poles in the last two events.
Palou at Laguna Seca: five starts, three wins, and a 1.6 average finish.
He has led 250 laps at this track, including 84 of 95 last year, underlining sustained control over race tempo and strategy.
That form makes him favourite for the NTT P1 Award on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET and a leading contender for Sunday’s 95-lap race.
Behind, Felix Rosenqvist registers 1:09.9907 for Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 60 Honda, running a Nickelback tribute livery that drew plenty of attention.
Rosenqvist sits within a tenth of Palou as Meyer Shank’s recent gains translate to outright pace.
Pato O’Ward, fresh from a Milwaukee double, delivers 1:10.1764 in Arrow McLaren’s No. 5 Chevrolet, tightening the fight for second overall.
He trails Christian Lundgaard by four points and Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood by two, intensifying the late-season dynamic.
Scott McLaughlin posts 1:10.3198 for Team Penske’s No. 3 entry, while Ganassi’s Kyffin Simpson is fifth with 1:10.3765 for the Sunoco-backed No. 8.
The 64-minute session runs across three groups, heightening track evolution and traffic variables on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile layout.
Only one incident occurs. Santino Ferrucci runs wide at Turn 9 and contacts the tyres nose-first in the No. 14 A.J. Foyt entry.
Ferrucci is uninjured, and the car sustains light damage, minimising knock-on effects for Saturday’s programme.
Palou’s pace advantage complements Ganassi’s broader strength, continuing a trend seen since his title-clinching performance.
Laguna Seca’s demands on tyre management and traffic discipline remain pivotal, particularly through the Corkscrew and Rainey Curve sequence.
The weekend resumes with practice Saturday at 1 p.m. ET before qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Qualifying is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday; the race distance is 95 laps on Sunday.
Coverage runs on FOX One and INDYCAR Radio, offering comprehensive access to on-track developments.
Visual Summary
Palou Strikes Again!
⚡
Fastest at Laguna Seca Practice • 1:09.8994
250
Laps led at Laguna
2
Consecutive Poles
1.6
Average Finish
🌀
Tackling the renamed Zanardi Corkscrew—Palou dominates
the most daring twist in INDYCAR.
the most daring twist in INDYCAR.
In honor of Alex Zanardi’s legacy. ✨
💥
Minor off! Ferrucci met the tires
Turn 9, but walks away. Car: lightly bruised.
Minor off! Ferrucci met the tires
Turn 9, but walks away. Car: lightly bruised.
Next: Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award — Saturday 4:30p ET
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
