Marcus Armstrong finished Saturday’s sole IndyCar practice on the Streets of Toronto as the fastest Kiwi in third overall, one place ahead of compatriot and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon.
Scott McLaughlin, who won his first oval race last round in Iowa, was ninth fastest, while Hunter McElrea impressed in his opening session ahead of his debut to place 18th.
Colton Herta led the way with a 1:01.0399, three-tenths quicker than second-best Felix Rosenqvist.
The opening 45-minute session was divided into two parts: the opening stages for all cars and the final 20 minutes divided into two groups. Two red flags impacted the run time of Group 2, with Alexander Rossi and Linus Lundqvist crashing in separate incidents.
Herta led the way after the all-car session, setting a 1:01.8906 to head Alex Palou’s 1:02.2189.
Marcus Ericsson’s weekend got off to a difficult start, with the #28 Andretti Global entry slowing and a plume of smoke erupting out of his Honda as he lost power.
Australia’s Will Power also spun in the final 15 minutes of the all-car run but returned to proceedings.
Herta’s 1:01.0399 was the fastest of the Group 1 runners on the softer alternate tyres. Rosenqvist was second, ahead of Armstrong, Dixon and Graham Rahal.
Rossi clipped the Turn 9 barrier in the opening phases of Group 2’s track time, breaking his thumb in the low-speed impact, which has seen him withdraw from the weekend.
McElrea used the escape road shortly after the resumption, moments before Lundqvist buried the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in the Turn 8 tyre barrier, bringing the second red flag.
McElrea’s 1:02.6102 was the fastest of Group 2, which finished under a red flag.
IndyCar returns with Practice 2 at 2.30 am on Sunday, followed by qualifying at 6.45 am.
Indy Toronto begins at 5.00 am on Monday and will be shown live on Sky Sport.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment: Travis Hinkle
