ELKHART LAKE – Marcus Armstrong wish to suppose the primary apply session of the NTT XPEL Grand Prix weekend at Highway America bodes effectively for him and teammate Felix Rosenqvuist.
They have been, in any case, first and second on the velocity chart after the 75-minute session June 19 on the rolling 4.014-mile course.
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“I really feel like it’s precious clearly, however by the point you get to Sunday, you are so dialed in,” Armstrong mentioned. “Frankly, I felt very dialed-in from the very first laps right here.
“I’ve all the time thought it would be fairly cool if we simply form of went [from a] quick apply, straight into quali[fying], as a result of you’ve got much less time to regulate as a driver and fewer time to search out the setup as a staff, and I really feel like it will be fairly attention-grabbing that manner. … You actually must be on it.”
Marcus Armstrong drives by way of Flip 7 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
Armstrong accomplished 15 laps along with his greatest approaching the 14th, 1 minute 44.2714 seconds (138.585 mph) on the grippier however much less sturdy alternate tires. Rosenqvist, whose first victory got here at Highway America in 2020 and his second within the Indianapolis 500 final month, was .0787 behind.
Three-time and defending race winner Alex Palou was subsequent. Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing and the Meyer Shank Racing staff for which Armstrong and Rosenqvist drive are allies inside the Honda camp.
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Palou is trying to turn out to be the primary driver to win 4 Indy-car races at Highway America, breaking from a tie with Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi, every of whom gained three within the CART period.
Curiously theirs have been groups that did not take a look at when about half the sphere did 10 days earlier.
“I do not suppose that we’re on the again foot,” Armstrong mentioned. “I used to be fairly comfortable from the primary lap, in order that’s additionally as a result of now we have automobile. However yeah, I do not really feel like we missed something.”
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Marcus Armstrong drive throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Marcus Armstrong drive throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Will Energy indicators an autograph earlier than NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Alexander Rossi runs large in Flip 14 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Alex Palou does an interview earlier than NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Josef Newgarden hobbles to his automobile on crutches for NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
David Malukas rounds Flip 6 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Kyle Kirkwood will get prepared for NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Scott Dixon climbs the hill towards Flip 6 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Louis Foster will get into his automobile throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Marcus Armstrong drives by way of Flip 7 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Scott McLaughlin will get able to climb into his automobile for NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Christian Rasmussen drives by way of Flip 6 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
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Motion from first IndyCar apply at Elkhart Lake’s Highway America
Josef Newgarden drives by way of Flip 7 throughout NTT IndyCar Collection XPEL Grand Prix apply Friday, June 19, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
(Supplied by Penske Leisure)
The highest 10 included six Honda-powered automobiles with Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren the most effective amongst Chevrolet groups.
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He and teammates Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel have been on the take a look at, which was extraordinarily precious, O’Ward mentioned, even when the outcomes of the primary apply did not make that clear.
“[It’s] simply steerage of the place we need to go for qualifying, simply type of getting a learn on what the alternate [tire] goes to do,” O’Ward mentioned of apply. “The character of IndyCar is you get shocked. What you felt in apply one after which apply two is one thing fully completely different typically and you are like, why? Generally it’s only a very easy weekend. No matter it will be, we’re simply going to attempt to maximize it.”
The quickest lap for every of the highest seven drivers have been inside a half-second and the highest 20 have been coated by a second.
Qualifying is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Saturday, June 20 (FS1 cable) following a second apply session at 10:05 a.m. The 55-lap race is about to begin after 1 p.m. Sunday (Fox).
Penske has a backup plan if Josef Newgarden cannot race at Highway America
Two-time Highway America winner Josef Newgarden, hobbled from his crash at Indy and subsequent surgical procedure to his left foot, ranked 14th as staff Penske appeared to battle general.
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Felipe Nasr, who drives for Penske’s sports activities automobile program and has gained at Highway America twice in IMSA, stood by by way of apply needing solely to drag up his uniform and placed on a helmet and gloves.
Nasr mentioned in a brief interview with Fox tv he wasn’t positive if he’d be wanted however could be prepared.
“It is fairly spectacular, what he is been capable of do within the automobile,” mentioned Nasr, who additionally was available at Detroit per week after the five hundred. He has examined however has not raced in IndyCar.
Between the Detroit avenue race and Highway America, Newgarden gained on the World Broad Know-how Raceway.
“No matter comes, this can be a monitor that I do know, so that is the positives I can see proper now,” Nasr continued.
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“I all the time wished to have a correct probability in any automobile, and I’ve pushed these automobiles prior to now. I do not know if it should be this weekend or not, however no less than it was an honor to be referred to as by the staff as their first choice.”
Tickets are on sale for 2027 IndyCar weekend at Highway America
Highway America launched its ticket gross sales effort for subsequent season with a promotional worth of $140 for the weekend.
The plain lacking element, although, is when the race can be. As has been the case lately, the monitor has begun gross sales earlier than the next season’s schedule was introduced. All indications are IndyCar will land on Father’s Day weekend once more in 2027, June 17-20.
