Team Penske Headlines a Weathered First Practice at WWT Raceway
- Jeffrey Hrunka
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Jeffrey Hrunka - INDYCAR Contributor
Through countless delays, involving a track inspection and a one-hour rain delay, Josef Newgarden led the way in the NTT INDYCAR’s first practice for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday afternoon.
Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin continued their dominance around St. Louis, as the only two drivers to time inside a 25.2-second lap time for the first two spots in practice with a 25.247s and 25.260s, respectively.
The Team Penske duo is poised as the favorites to win. Newgarden is a five-time winner at the track with four victories in the last five races. McLaughlin is the only driver to hold four consecutive top fives heading into the weekend. No other driver in the field has an active streak longer than one race.
The Kiwi also posted the fastest trap speed in turn four, going 182.264 miles per hour.
David Malukas rounded out the podium places with a 25.301s lap time to slot himself into third. Of the 23-year-old American’s three career podiums, two came at the WWT Raceway in 2022 and 2023. He was poised to go three in a row with Meyer Shank Racing last season, before contact with Will Power sent him out of the race.
He carries momentum off his third podium, a runner-up finish in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Alex Palou was clocked as the fastest Honda in fourth with a 25.350s lap. He is the sole oval winner of the season, earning the feat in the INDY 500. His best finish in St. Louis was a fourth-place effort in 2024.
Andretti Global was the only team to get all three of its cars inside the Top 10. Herta led the trio in sixth (25.365s), with Marcus Ericcson (25.430s) and Kyle Kirkwood (25.452s) in seventh and ninth, respectively.
Conor Daly and Alexander Rossi rounded out the Top 10 in eighth and tenth. Both drivers combined for only three Top-10 finishes in the last six races at the WWT Raceway.
Aside from Newgarden, Scott Dixon and Will Power are the only two active drivers who have won at WWT Raceway. Dixon has two victories in 2020 and 2023, while Power’s last win dates back to 2018. The two veterans sat beside one another on the timing sheet in 12th (25.954s) and 13th (25.960s).
For four drivers, it was their first time around the 1.25-mile oval. Christian Rasmussen and rookies Robert Swartzman, Louis Foster and Jacob Abel all timed below 19th. Foster led the bunch with a 25.838s lap, while three were in the 26-second range—one of six drivers who ran a 26-second lap.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 Results (Top 10):
For full practice results, go to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES website.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES action continues on Sunday, June 15, for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on FOX.
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