VeeKay pips Grosjean by 0.0356s to guide second observe

The 23-year-old Dutchman rocketed to the highest of the leaderboard with a fast lap of 1m06.5463s on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn highway course.

“The automobile feels actually good,” VeeKay stated. “It felt fairly good yesterday.

“Could not actually get a lap in on the purple tyres, however we made some modifications in a single day for what we thought was the precise course and it was the precise course. In order that’s actually good.

“I am excited for qualifying. It is normally an excellent signal once you’re quick in observe two.”

Romain Grosjean continued his sturdy weekend, with the #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing driver ending simply off VeeKay at 0.035s behind. Team Penske’s Scott Mclaughlin ended up third at 0.063s off the highest mark.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s duo of Graham Rahal and Christian Lundgaard had been fourth and fifth, respectively.

Pato O’Ward positioned sixth for Arrow McLaren, forward of Penske’s Will Power.

Reigning IndyCar Sequence champion Alex Palou ended the session eighth for Chip Ganassi Racing as Penske’s Josef Newgarden and Ganassi driver Marcus Armstrong rounded out the highest 10.

The session was purple flagged lower than three minutes in after Pietro Fittipaldi went off at Flip 2, struggling a steering failure.

“We had been simply doing laps and warming up the automobile,” the RLL driver defined.

“Weren’t actually pushing after which my steering rack simply got here free. Fortunately, it did not occur within the high-speed nook, as a result of it could’ve been fairly scary.

“I had no steering, mainly. Disenchanted as a result of we want laps, clearly, to maintain getting rhythm with these tracks I do not know. Clearly, would not assist the race.”

Lundgaard went quickest shortly after the resumption of observe, producing a flying lap of 1m06.6973s. However VeeKay dethroned the Dane along with his quick lap with half-hour to go.

The purple flags returned with 20 minutes remaining after Arrow McLaren’s Theo Pourchaire, making his second IndyCar begin this rather than the injured David Malukas, spun off at Flip 14. He was capable of proceed on after receiving help.

In the course of the purple flag, Felix Rosenqvist was seen getting pushed again to the paddock following an issue along with his Honda engine, prematurely ending the Meyer Shank Racing driver’s session.

“We had a lack of energy after which they stated we’ve to park it [for] one thing with the engine,” the Swede stated. “So, unlucky.

“I believed really the automobile felt fairly good in comparison with yesterday, so I am happier now going into qualifying than if it could’ve been yesterday.

“Unhealthy luck, however we’ll get her mounted right here. I feel we would do an engine change and see we find yourself in quali.”

IndyCar Barber second observe outcomes