It was time for the IndyCar Thermal Club GP FP2 session. Alex Palou topped the first practice session as IndyCar returned for a points-paying event in 2025.
After Kyle Kirkwood led the initial all-car session, practice was split into two groups following a red flag for Robert Shwartzman‘s flaming PREMA. Palou ultimately set the fastest time (1:40.548), with Kirkwood, Ericsson, and Herta showing strong pace. Significant tire degradation was noted by multiple drivers, creating strategic concerns for today’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race.
Green light for FP2
McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard has topped the timing sheets in the final practice session ahead of qualifying at Thermal Club, showing remarkable pace recovery after yesterday’s issues and time penalty.
The 45-minute session saw immediate activity as all drivers rushed out of the pits, though Prema faced ongoing challenges with Robert Shwartzman’s car. Despite working until 4 am and having the Israeli driver assist, the newcomer Italian team couldn’t complete repairs in time, leaving Shwartzman unable to set a single lap on his new chassis.
Colton Herta initially led with a 1:43.616s before St. Petersburg polesitter Scott McLaughlin briefly improved the benchmark. The session’s pace quickly evolved, with Lundgaard becoming the first to break into the 1:42s just five minutes in, showing Team Penske had recovered considerable speed after an unimpressive showing in Friday’s practice.
Kyle Kirkwood briefly claimed the top spot with a 1:42.111s, demonstrating Andretti’s continued strong form compared to 2024. The team had finished 2-3-4 yesterday, maintaining momentum despite Herta’s missed opportunity for victory at St. Petersburg due to pit issues.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster impressed by jumping to P2 behind Kirkwood, ahead of reigning champion Alex Palou. Meanwhile, Ganassi’s Simpson found himself stranded in the pits with shifting problems despite his strong performance in first practice.
The midfield contenders soon made their presence felt, with Santino Ferrucci putting AJ Foyt briefly atop the leaderboard with a 1:42.033s before improving further to record the first lap in the 1:41s. Rinus Veekay continued his promising form shown at St. Petersburg with Dale Coyne Racing, setting a 1:41.642s.
Lundgaard then decisively moved the goalposts by breaking into the 1:40s. Arrow McLaren showed promising pace throughout, with teammate Siegel also featuring in the top five on the softer tyre compound.
Tyre degradation appeared significant, with most drivers struggling to maintain peak performance over multiple laps—a factor that would likely influence qualifying strategy later in the day.
Final stages of FP2
In the session’s final stages, Palou set his best effort, still half a second behind pacesetter Lundgaard. McLaughlin, despite facing a fine for a brake fan issue, managed to salvage a top-ten position, while teammate Will Power secured P6 as he seeks redemption after his first-lap retirement at St. Petersburg.
The final classification saw McLaren’s Lundgaard leading reigning champion Palou, with Marcus Ericsson completing the top three. Andretti experienced mixed fortunes—while Ericsson claimed a podium position and Herta remained in the top ten, Kirkwood could only manage 20th after his earlier pace.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden couldn’t improve on a disappointing P16 after running wide on his final attempt, while Callum Ilott provided a rare bright spot for Prema’s difficult day by securing a top-ten position.
The stage is now set for what promises to be an exciting qualifying session at the Thermal Club GP.
All Car Results – IndyCar Thermal Club GP FP2
- Lundgaard
- Palou
- Ericsson
- Armstrong
- O’Ward
- Power
- Herta
- VeeKay
- DeFrancesco
- McLaughlin
- Ilott
- Dixon
- Foster
- Rasmussen
- Ferrucci
- Newgarden
- Rahal
- Malukas
- Siegel
- Kirkwood
- Rossi
- Rosenqvist
- Simpson
- Daly
- Robb
- Abel
- Shwartzman
