IndyCar Laguna Seca: Herta paces second practice amid three red flags

Andretti Global’s Colton Herta led the way in a second practice session for the IndyCar Series that was blighted by three red flags on Saturday morning at Laguna Seca.

A two-time former winner, Herta took the top spot with a stout flying lap of 1m08.230s around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural terrain road course, having also placed second in the Friday evening’s opening practice.

“It feels really nice,” Herta said. “It felt nice on reds (softer alternate tyres) yesterday, I felt good on blacks (harder primary tyres) today.

“I think we’re in a good spot. We don’t need to do much and we should be good (for qualifying).”

Team Penske’s Will Power took second, lapping 0.196s behind the mark set by Herta.

Reigning and two-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou, another former winner at the circuit based near Monterey, California, was third at 0.208s behind.

Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin, who led opening practice, was fourth, ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.

Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Josh Tons / Motorsport Images

The first red flag was brought out less than five minutes into the 45-minute session after rookie Christian Rasmussen went off and through the gravel, with a portion of the backend of his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet hitting the Turn 10 tyre barrier and snapping back to hit the left-front of the car.

Despite only running three laps, he was quick enough to hold 14th position out of 27 cars.

“I think the rear just kind of stepped out and then we just tank slapped out towards the wall,” Rasmussen said. “Really sucked.

“I feel like we needed that time in the car and I’m just sorry for the boys to have to put the car together before qualifying now. Not what we wanted to do here today.”

Shortly after the session resumed, Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi went to the top of the leaderboard with a 1m08.615s lap, which dethroned Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou produced quick laps but only enough to go second and third quickest with 35 minutes left, which dropped Kirkwood to fourth.

Another red flag came out with just under 32 minutes to go when Sting Ray Robb’s No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet ended up stranded in the gravel trap at the top of the Corkscrew.

Once the session resumed once again, the likes of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong bounced into third.

However, the top spot changed hands with 22 minutes remaining after O’Ward hung on to a couple of wild moments to push out a 1m08.549s flying lap.

With less than 20 minutes to go, the running order was O’Ward, Rossi, Kirkwood, Armstrong and Herta.

Herta propelled to first with roughly 16 minutes to go after nailing a quick lap of 1m08.230s, with Palou following with a 1m08.438s run to go second.

Power, who endured a couple of off-track moments throughout the session, was able to put together enough of a lap and vault to second at 1m08.4261s.

A third red flag came out with just over 10 minutes remaining after rookie Kyffin Simpson spun and stalled in the gravel trap at the exit of Turn 9.

The running order remained unchanged at the top the rest of the way.