David Malukas led tahe Indycar field in the just completred morning warmup for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio. Malukas turned his fast lap of 1:07:7110 late in the session. Alex Palou finished second, o.24 seconds behind Malukas. Pole sitter Pato O’Ward was 17th.

Josef Newgarden set the early pace as he started the session on the red alternate tire. Points leader Marcus Ericsson, Palou, and Romain Grosjean also led at different times.

I like Palou’s chances today. It is rare that the defending series champion doesn’t win a race the following year.

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