In years past at Mid-Ohio, Team Penske has had tons of success this morning’s practice session was no different.
Will Power put his No. 12 Team Penske Chevy on the top of the timing charts after Practice 2 in preparation for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 with the fastest lap of the session at 1:06.4905 seconds on Lap 15 of the 22 laps he ran, while edging out the 2021 series champion and current points leader Alex Palou by .25 seconds.
The @Verizon 5G machine feels solid. Weather could play a part today, but we’ll be ready to give it our all.
— Will Power (@12WillPower) July 1, 2023
Quali up next. Time to #PowerUp. #INDYCAR // @Team_Penske // @TeamChevy pic.twitter.com/BgSl0TQg02
Following Power and Palou on the time charts was Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta with a lap of 1:06.7791 seconds putting him at P3. Friday’s practice session leader Pato O’Ward lost a few seconds overnight with a quick lap of 1:06.7947 seconds compared to Friday at 1:06.4935 seconds putting him fourth. Rounding out the top five was Scott Dixon, who laid down his quickest lap of 1:06.8289 seconds, placing him P5.
Not every driver had a successful practice session this morning, particularly Meyer Shank Racing’s Simon Pagenaud.
Pagenaud went on one of the wildest rides IndyCar fans have seen since Michael Andretti at Mid-Ohio a few years back. Early in the practice session, the Frenchman was attempting to brake going into one of the many turns at Mid-Ohio, when his car went airborne off the track into the sand trap, barrel-rolling six times before coming to rest on its side leaning on the tire barrier. Pagenaud radioed his crew, telling them he was okay and that the brakes weren’t working before going on the wild ride. Before the session ended, Pagenaud’s crew started getting the backup and spare parts ready to rebuild the car for the race tomorrow.
“It was a hell of a ride for sure,” said the former Team Penske driver. “Something broke and I couldn’t slow down. I tried to make the corner anyways, I was like, ‘Maybe I can.’ I know that gravel is (trouble). Michael Andretti has done it (in 1998). I guess I’m joining another legend, so that’s cool.”
“But I was just trying to bail out. It’s downhill, which is nuts. Basically, the car took off. I hit the gravel and it just rolled. So, just glad I didn’t go over the tire wall and so glad we have the aeroscreen. I’m really thankful for IndyCar and the aeroscreen safety.”
An absolutely violent wreck for Simon Pagenaud after his car lost its breaks during #IndyCar practice 2 at Mid-Ohio:
— Always Race Day (@AlwaysRaceDay) July 1, 2023
– Pagenaud exited the car under his own power.pic.twitter.com/3KpGkRMKWN
After the session, IndyCar put out a statement on Twitter updating fans on Pagenaud’s condition.
#INDYCAR statement on Simon Pagenaud. pic.twitter.com/ThCqOmTFe1
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) July 1, 2023
Up Next: Qualifying – Today, 3:05 p.m EST on Peacock
