Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio: Practice Session Report
Date: July 4, 2023
Location: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
In a competitive practice session leading up to the Honda Indy 200, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou secured the fastest lap with a time of 1:05.396 in the No. 10 Honda, demonstrating strong form ahead of qualifying. The session featured a tight contest, particularly among the Arrow McLaren and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing teams.
Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard took second place with a lap of 1:05.552, while teammate Pato O’Ward finished fourth at 1:05.727. Notably, Louis Foster surged late to claim third with a time of 1:05.596 in the No. 45 Honda. The top five was rounded out by Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing, clocking in at 1:05.794 despite facing hybrid powertrain issues earlier.
Kyle Kirkwood, Friday’s session leader, finished ninth, while Colton Herta placed sixth. Marcus Ericsson experienced a crash that limited his time on track, but he managed to secure the 12th fastest lap overall.
The session, held under warm conditions with temperatures reaching 82 degrees, was marred by multiple incidents, including Ericsson’s crash caused by snap oversteer, which brought out a red flag. Following repairs, the session resumed with less than 20 minutes remaining, maintaining the competitive tension among the top drivers.
Session Summary:
- Top 5 Times:
- Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) – 1:05.396
- Christian Lundgaard (Arrow McLaren) – 1:05.552
- Louis Foster (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) – 1:05.596
- Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) – 1:05.727
- Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Racing) – 1:05.794
Next Event: Qualifying at 2:30 PM ET.
The attention now shifts to qualifying, where teams will aim to secure optimal starting positions for Sunday’s race.
