Workforce Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was the quickest driver on Friday on the BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland. The New Zealander’s No. 3 Chevy paced the sector of 28 vehicles with a finest lap of 58.3669s beneath closely overcast skies and the specter of rain, which waited till the checkered flag to seem.
“Portland, it’s not a simple place to place collectively a full lap,” McLaughlin stated. “These corners take precision, and that’s one thing that takes a couple of laps to work as much as as a result of there are sluggish corners but in addition a number of the quickest corners we see all yr lengthy. It’s tremendous vital to consider how every nook units up for the following part.
“It’s a enjoyable problem, and it’s a spot we’ve had some success on already in my profession. I feel most individuals would assume that we now have the final three races on ovals circled as locations to capitalize on, however we’re assured right here at Portland, as properly.”
Behind the Kiwi was championship chief and defending Portland winner Alex Palou within the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (58.4337s) and Palou’s teammate Marcus Armstrong was third within the No. 11 Honda (58.6095s).
Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi was a charging fifth; he was fast instantly and didn’t let a spin on the Flip 1 chicane interrupt his session within the No. 7 Chevy (58.6705s) and had Ganassi’s Scott Dixon shut behind in sixth with the No. 9 Honda (58.7043s).
Elsewhere, Meyer Shank Racing’s David Malukas was sturdy in seventh, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Pietro Fittipaldi, who attacked the course with nice vigor, led the RLL staff in twelfth, the latest race winner Josef Newgarden was sixteenth for Penske, and after a yr out of the cockpit, RLL’s Juri Vips impressed in twentieth.
On the backside of the sector, Dale Coyne Racing’s Toby Sowery had his session reduce brief with a clutch subject and Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Conor Daly solely received 5 laps in earlier than a gas strain downside intervened.
UP NEXT: Second observe, Saturday at midday ET.
