The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach warmup session has shaken things up, with Josef Newgarden taking the lead and setting a top lap time of 1 minute, 7.9685 seconds in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet. This is a significant development, as Newgarden is a two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, and his performance could be a strong indicator of his potential to win the race. However, the air of mystery surrounding the 90-lap race remains, as two favorites for victory encountered problems during the warmup session.
One of the favorites, Pato O'Ward, who is starting second, only managed to turn 13 laps and finished 24th at 1:09.8382 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The team had to spend a significant portion of the session in the pits, as they tried to secure a loose heel rest in O'Ward's cockpit. This is a concerning development for O'Ward, as it could impact his performance in the race.
Another favorite, Series leader and reigning Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood, also encountered problems. He spent time parked on pit lane in the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda, as his Andretti Global crew continued to wrestle with a problem with the car's hybrid energy system that appeared after qualifying. Kirkwood managed just 12 laps and was 20th quickest at 1:09.5215. This is a significant setback for Kirkwood, as he will need to overcome these technical issues to have a chance of winning the race.
The warmup session has also seen Scott Dixon, a six-time series champion, in second place at 1:08.1479 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, followed by NTT P1 Award winner Felix Rosenqvist at 1:08.2157 in the No. 60 SiriusXM/Acura Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian. The top five is rounded out by Alex Palou, a four-time and reigning series champion, and Graham Rahal.
The problems encountered by O'Ward and Kirkwood have added to the air of mystery surrounding the race. It remains to be seen how these issues will impact the race, and whether Newgarden will be able to capitalize on his strong performance in the warmup session. The race promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event, with the potential for a surprise winner.
In my opinion, the warmup session has provided a glimpse into the potential contenders for the race, but the real test will be the actual race itself. The technical issues encountered by O'Ward and Kirkwood could be a significant factor in the race, and it will be interesting to see how the teams respond to these challenges. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a prestigious event, and the warmup session has only added to the excitement and anticipation of the race.
