There is nothing like a good start to lay the foundations of proper forms. No victories yet in this 2022, Álex Palou has reached the Indianapolis Grand Prix as the leader of the generaland the reigning champion did not want to miss out on the opportunity to lead the first free practice of this intense Friday in which the second free sessions and the qualifying session will also take place.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who was seventh in the timesheets, took advantage of a brief final period of open track after a red flag to record in-extremis the best time of the session with a 1:10.455. In weather conditions considerably warmer than in 2021, this record fell six tenths off the best time in Free Practice 1 last year, but it was enough to snatch the lead by just four thousandths from an amazing Callum Ilott., who is willing to continue the good line exhibited in Barber.
Just before the aforementioned red flag, caused by a spin by Hélio Castroneves in the final section, Ilott jumped from 21st position to the top with an excellent lap for the Juncos car, in its first competitive experience on this track. After the two European pilots, the one that had been leading for much of the session, Will Power, with a time that in conditions similar to the rest had been higher than any other by two tenths. Something not insignificant if we take into account that the top 22 are separated by just seven tenths.
Graham Rahl, looking for a good result, finished fourth over Felix Rosenqvist, who usually does well on this track, and his compatriot Marcus Ericsson, who also took advantage of the final moments to improve his time. Two other drivers with speed records at the Indy GP, Simon Pagenaud and Jack Harvey, followed in seventh and eighth place. They completed the top 10 Castroneves and a more discreet Colton Herta than usual, his being the fastest time for an Andretti Autosport carwithout Romain Grosjean slipping among the fastest on a track conducive to him.
In the same way, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin did not break into the top 15 in the Penske drives, and teams like Coyne and Carpenter, who battled it out last year, had significant speed issues. Towards the bottom of the table, the second consecutive presence of John Paul Montoya in this test he started with a 25th place in the third McLaren SP car, behind Jimmie Johnson and only beating two of the Foyts.
RESULTS OF PRIZE 1 OF THE INDIANAPOLIS GP
Photos: IndyCar Media