In the NTT IndyCar Series, drivers returned to the Thermal Club track for another round of testing. Throughout the afternoon, they had three hours to experiment with different setups and strategies. As the session progressed and the track cooled down, lap times improved compared to the morning session. Once again, Alex Palou stood out as the fastest driver, showcasing his skills and reaffirming his dominance. With a lap time of 1 minute 39.3373 seconds, he outperformed his competitors by a significant margin. Felix Rosenqvist and Romain Grosjean followed closely behind, demonstrating their strong partnerships with their respective teams. Rinus VeeKay and Christian Lundgaard also had respectable performances, giving them valuable data for the upcoming weekend. Although there was a brief interruption caused by Christian Rasmussen, the drivers faced challenges throughout the afternoon due to poor grip on the track. Despite some close calls and trips through the gravel, most drivers managed to stay on course. However, the slippery conditions resulted in high tire wear, leading to significant drops in lap times after just a few laps. This tire management will be crucial in Sunday’s 20-lap feature event, as no tire changes will be allowed. The drivers who can preserve their grip levels the best will have a strong chance of earning a substantial reward. Saturday will bring four more hours of testing, followed by qualifying sessions in the evening.
The triple World Champion in Formula 1 stated that his performance had not been affected by the time he spent gaming in between his real-world responsibilities. Verstappen mentioned...
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