Sunday morning warm-up for the Verizon IndyCar Series at the 41st Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is not just about who goes what speed during the half-hour session, but also running checks, practicing pit stops, and seeing and being seen.
Josef Newgarden/No.67 Hartman Oil CFH Racing Chevrolet was the fastest driver on course, at 1:07.8940. Simon Pagenaud/No.22 Penske Truck Rental Chevrolet was second. Pagenaud hit the wall which brought out the Red Flag and the clock ran out the session. Just before, Newgarden brushed the wall. Both cars are fixable.
Gaby Chaves was third and the top Rookie, driving No.98 Bowers & Wilkins/Curb Honda.
Pole sitter Helio Castroneves/No.3 Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet was ninth.
Conor Daly/No.18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda ran twentieth overall. This was only his third session in the car this weekend. When he was tapped Saturday morning to fill the seat vacated by an injured Rocky Moran, Jr.
With Daly not driving the IndyCar Experience two-seater IndyCar, this left an opening, which was filled by IndyCar team co-owner, Sarah Fisher. She has driven the two-seater cars in the past, which give VIP rides. Driving the other two-seaters are Mario Andretti and Zak Veach.
Having a ride of another nature, IndyCar co-owner, Sam Schmidt, drove a special Arrow Corvette in the Mother’s Exotic Car Parade.
The weather just got better as the morning came along. Blue cloudless skies, warm and sunny with a moderate breeze. It’s said that it has never rained on the Long Beach Grand Prix – the Sunday race.
