IndyCar returned to the Thermal Club on Saturday for a second day of testing on the private club course. Throughout the day, drivers were able to take advantage of approximately three hours of testing. However, there were a couple of unexpected situations that caused delays. The first stoppage occurred just 15 minutes after the start, when pieces of the track broke apart on the exit of Turn 5. This was due to drivers running wide over the exit curbs, causing the asphalt outside of the track line to break apart and fly into the air. The track safety crew quickly filled the hole with a fast-setting epoxy, which held up well for the rest of the day. An extra 15 minutes were added to make up for lost time, but no further extensions were possible due to the busy schedule. In the afternoon, the final test session was delayed by five minutes due to a strong gust of wind that blew across the course. Visibility dropped temporarily due to the thick sand and dust, but the session was able to continue once the gusts settled. The wind continued to affect drivers, causing many to run into the runoff areas as they pushed their limits in the afternoon. Overall, 2,335 laps were completed over approximately eight hours of running on Friday and Saturday, providing valuable data for the teams as they plan for the rest of the season. Christian Lundgaard set the fastest time of the weekend on Saturday, completing a lap of the 3.067-mile course in 1 minute 38.2199 seconds during the late afternoon session. Will Power and Scott McLaughlin were the second and third fastest drivers, respectively, also setting their times in the latter half of the second day. During the afternoon session, drivers were allowed to use their Push to Pass systems, which simulates the extra power they will have available for qualifying runs later in the evening. With 40 seconds of boost available per lap, drivers could utilize the extra power on every straight of the winding course. The combination of the extra power, the track taking on more Firestone rubber, and cooler track conditions contributed to the times continuing to improve throughout the day. The fastest times of the weekend may still be ahead, as qualifying is scheduled to take place when the sun is low in the sky. Two short qualifying runs will occur at 5:00 PM local time, 8:00 PM Eastern, followed by two heat races and the $1 Million Challenge on Sunday.
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