About 50/50 split on the starting tire.
Honda Indy 200 Tire Selections
Tag: Mid Ohio Sports Car Course
Malukas Quickest in Morning Warmup
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.
The top 12:
Race Day at Mid Ohio
Today’s Schedule:
Festival Gate Hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
| Time | Series | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM | Porsche Sprint Challenge | Race 2 |
| 9:45AM – 10:15AM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Warm-Up Peacock |
| 10:35AM – 11:35AM | Indy Lights | Race Peacock |
| 12:00 PM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Driver Introductions |
| 12:55 PM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Race (80 Laps) NBC, Peacock |
| 3:00 PM-3:45 PM | Stadium Super Trucks | Race 2 |
Starting lineup
Today’s Honda Indy 200 has a lot at stake. The top three in the standings are starting 13th , 14th, and 21st. The next three in the points start 3rd, 5th, and 7th. The standings may shuffle at the end of the day.
Points leader Marcus Ericsson has one job this afternoon – stay ahead of Will Power and Joisef Newgaqrden. Ericsson starts 13th and Newgarden, third in points, is next to him on the grid. Power, 27 points behind Ericsson, has a more challenging task from 21st.
Pato O’Ward hopes to turn his first pole of the season into his second victory of the year. O’Ward needs a win to stay in the title fight. He is currently fourth in the standings 45 points behind Ericsson.
A Great Day for Rookies?
David Malukas, Kyle Kirkwood, and Callum Ilott start eighth, ninth, and tenth respectively. All have been fast in practice and occasionally in qualifying, but they have few good results in the race. Today could be a good day for all three rookies. Malukas seeks his first top 10 of the year. Kirkwood has a 10th at long Beach and Ilott finished eightth at the GMR Grand Prix on the IMS road course.
It should be an interesting race with some ususal race contenders starting mid pack. Mid Ohio tends to be a track position race. The number and length of caution periods may embolden some drivers to go off strategy, which can be risky at this track.
Back after the morning warm up.
O’Ward Pole Ties Series Record
Some quick thought on today’s qualifying. A more detailed story will comer later tonight.
Pato O’Ward is the ninth different pole winner in the nine Indycar races in 2022. The last time nine different drivers won poles for the first nine races was 1961.
O’Ward thinks that Will Power would have been a threat for the pole had he not received a penaltty in Round 1 for interference.
The top three in points were eliminated in Round 1. Points leader Marcus Ericsson will start 13th, Will Power lines up21st, and Josef Newgarden will stat 14th. O’Ward sits fourth in point, 45 points behind Ericsson. Tomorrow is a hiuge opportunity for the Arrow McLaren SP driver.
Rookies Shine
Three rookies made the second round and two just missed advancing to the final round.
Kyle Kirkwood earned his best starting spot of the season. He starts ninth, justmissing the Fast Six.
David Malukas continues to improve and will be eighth on the grid Sunday.
Callum Ilott starts 10th.
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Scott Dixon has his bestb road course starting position in fifth.
Nice to see Simon Pagenaud make the Fast Six. The Meyer Shank team has struggled in qualifying this year.
Back later with more about today’s very interesting qualifying.
Qualifying Groups
Coverage on Peacock at 2:45 pm Eastern time.
Herta Paces Practice 2
Colton Herta turned a lap of 1:07.027 late in this morning’s practice to lead the final practice round before qualifying this afternoon. Herta’s lap came just before the third red flag ot yhe morning halted practie about 90 seconds early.
Rinus VeeKay had led the majority of the practice until the final push by other drivers dropped his time to sixth. Will Power finished second and Josef mewgarden was third. Power’s time was only 0.003 seconds behind Herta. Newgarden was 0.034 seconds off the pace.
Three red flags interrupted the session. Just two and a half minutes into the session, Devlin DeFrancesco went off track in turn 2 and had cintact with the barrier. With about 30 minutes left Dalton Kellett went into the turn 12 tire barrier. The final stoppage happened with only a minute and 23 seconds left. Will Power oulled his car off course in turn 4 and stopped. The carbwas towed back to the paddock.
The results set up a fascinating second qualifying group with Herta, Newgarden, Alex Palou, and Pato O’Ward. We could see a three round duel between Herta and Newgarden.
The top 13:
Mid Ohio Saturday: Qualifying Could Determine Race Results
Today’s schedule:
Festival Gate Hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
| Time | Series | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM | Porsche Sprint Challenge | Qualifying |
| 8:35 AM – 9:15 AM | Indy Lights | Practice 2 |
| 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Practice 2 Peacock |
| 10:45 AM – 11:25 AM | USF 2000 | Race 2 |
| 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM | Indy Pro 2000 | Race 1 |
| 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | Porsche Sprint Challenge | Race 1 |
| 1:45 PM – 2:05 PM | Indy Lights | Qualifying |
| 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Qualifying Peacock |
| 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM | Stadium Super Trucks | Race 1 |
| 5:00 PM – 5:40 PM | USF2000 | Race 3 |
| 5:55 PM – 6:40 PM | Indy Pro 2000 | Race 2 |
| After Dusk | Fireworks |
Today is arguably the most crucial day of the weekend for drivers hoping for a good race result. Mid Ohio is a track where qualifying usually determines how the race will go. The last three Hnda Indy 200s have been won from the pole. Drivers I talked to yesterday agreed that qualifying is critical.
From last night- https://thepitwindow.blog/2022/07/01/mid-ohio-practice-1-newgarden-leads-a-very-hot-session/
Today’s forecast has temperatures in the low eighties for qualifying, about 10 degrees cooler trhan yesterday. Practice leader Josef Newgarden said after practice that the heat caused low grip, which should improve today. newgarden also noted that the new Firestone tire takes longer to come up to temperature.
Notes
The top 19 cars were withiun a secomd of each other in practice Friday.
The 11 and 14 cars for . A. J. Foyt Racing are easier to distinguish this weekend. Tatiana Calderon’s number 11 has a white band across the top of the aeroscreen and a white camera pod. kirkwood’s nmber 14 remainms allblack with a yellow green camera pod.
It is difficult to finsd Marcus Ericsson on track since he is in a green and black car this weekend.
I’ll have more after In get to the track.
Mid Ohio Practice 1-Newgarden Leads a Very Hot Session
Josef Newgarden led the openeing practcie round for the Honda Indy 200 nwith a lap of 1:07.0549. Alex Palou was second, 0,2061 seconds behind. Newgarden was fastest on both the primary and alternate tires.
Takuma Sato brought ot the only red flag of the session when he spun going into turn 1 about 35 minutes into the session.
The temperature reachede 91 degrees during the practice. Newgarden said he felt it and couldn’t wait to get out of the car. He also felt it affected the grip.
“I think the temp definitely made the track grip low. It felt very difficult to drive the car today, to bring it up to temperature. Firestone has a new tire here from last year, and it’s tougher to bring up to temp.
Feels like a little less grip.”
Colton Herta, who was fifth fastest today, reflected on last year’s pit issue and what the team hopoes tro find this year.
“We were very fast last year. Up until that pit stop we
were able to stay with Josef. We just need to find a little bit
more time. I think I know what I’m looking for in the race
car, and it’s going to be — if we can find it or not.”
David Malkukas, who had the eightth fastest time, is extremely happy wqith his rookie season.
“…, everything has gonebetter than I was expecting to be honest. I’ve been in here, I wasn’t expecting to be in here at all for this season, and
the fact that we are and being more consistent, it’s making
me very happy, and honestly from start to finish it’s gone
better than I was expecting.”
Tomorrow and Siunday the temperatures will be between eight to ten degrees coolere. Newgarden believes the cooler temperatures will increase the grip.
Results:
Friday Morning at Mid Ohio
First off, it is very warm. Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the weekend. Rcae Day looks to be the coolest day, which makes me wonder how valuable today’s practice will be. So far the crowd appears to be the typical small typical Friday gathering. More fans might come later for Indycar practice.
Alexander Rossi had the first choice of pit boxes this weekend and chose the fourth stall instead of the first one. Josef Newgarden took the first box before pit out.
Kyle Kirkwood has Sexton Properties on the side of the 14 car this weekend, another sign that Rokit may not be long for the series,
Marcus Ericsson will be in green this weekend. It might take a bit to get used to this.
Photos from the Paddock
Only at Mid Ohio can fans get this view of the garages
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 