Armstrong, Meyer Shank Show Early Speed at Road America
Photo: Paul Hurley/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
Despite not feeling well, Marcus Armstrong produced the fastest lap in Friday’s lone 75-minute practice session for Sunday’s XPEL Grand Prix at Elkhart Lake’s Road America Presented by AMR.
Armstrong’s lap of 1 minute, 44.2714 in the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda was just marginally faster than teammate Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 car.
“Yeah,” said Armstrong, who is suffering from the flu, “we were fast right out the gate. That's the main thing. I don't think we strung together a perfect lap. I thought the following lap was going to be a little spicier.
“I feel pretty confident around here. It's good to be back on a road course. It reminds me a bit of Spa in Europe, this circuit. Somewhere that I'm very well familiar with.
“I don't know. It's cool. It's nice and smooth. Seems like the tire is a bit better this year, too. It's been fun out there today.”
With teammate Rosenqvist showing speed as well, Armstrong is hoping that means good things for Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race at the 14 turn, 4.014 mile natural terrain road course.
“Yeah, it's always nice to be good in practice, but obviously it's a worry when you're quick in practice. I don't know, sometimes, the reds (alternate tires) don’t work one day, then they do the next. Sometimes it can be the opposite.
“But yeah, I feel happy that Felix is up there, too. Also Alex (Palou). I suppose all the Ganassi cars were quick today,” said Armstrong, whose team has a technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing. “I think we have a good, strong package this weekend.”
Tied for ninth in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings, Armstrong hopes to continue his strong runs of late this weekend at Road America.
“Fundamentally we have a good car, right? I feel like we've had the potential to do some cool things this year. Unfortunately for one reason or another it hasn't always come together. Like even from St. Pete I thought we had a strong car, a good chance for a podium. It's been like that for the majority of the races really.
“I feel like the car has been extremely strong on road courses this year. On short ovals we've managed to salvage some results, but it hasn't always been the easiest.
“Yeah, hopefully this weekend we can kind of string it together.”
Photo: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
Team Penske IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Felipe Nasr was fully suited and booted during Friday’s practice session, ready to take over the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, if needed. Two-time Road America winner Josef Newgarden (2018, 2022) was on crutches Friday as he recovers from an injured left ankle from a crash in the Indianapolis 500. He drove the entire practice session, placing 14th on the time sheets.
Also, while yet to be confirmed, it sounds like the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will return to “America’s National Park of Speed” on the same Father’s Day weekend date in 2027, June 17 - 20.
Practice 2 is scheduled for 10:05 (CDT) Saturday morning with qualifying following at 1:05.
After a warm-up at 10:05 (CDT) Sunday morning, the XPEL Grand Prix presented by AMR will take the green flag at 1:20.
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute.