P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alex Palou paces opening test session at The Thermal Club
In the first test session before the $1 Million Challenge this weekend, Alex Palou, the two-time IndyCar champion, set the fastest time of 1m39.5149s around the 3.067-mile road course. Christian Lundgaard was second, followed by Marcus Armstrong in third. Chip Ganassi Racing had two of the top three spots with Armstrong and Palou. The Arrow McLaren duo of Rossi and O’Ward finished in fourth and fifth, within 0.3975s of each other. The rest of the top 10 included Lundqvist, Rosenqvist, Power, Ilott, and Dixon. Santino Ferrucci, Graham Rahal, and Christian Rasmussen had off-track moments in Turn 2. Marcus Ericsson’s car caught fire, causing him to finish 12th. Josef Newgarden only completed an installation lap, ending 20th overall. Kyffin Simpson from Chip Ganassi Racing logged the most laps at 32, finishing 23rd.
