The morning started off cold and misty as I drove into Laguna Secca, Weather Tech Raceway. By the time we got done with driver interviews in the bullpen the sun was coming through into another beautiful California day. I headed up into the Corkscrew, one of the most famous set of corners in racing. After climbing up the backstraight the drive pitch the car into a hard left into a blind set of corners that drop 9 stories at a max 18% grade. Get it right and it is a thing a beauty, get it wrong you can tear up the bottom of the car or end up in the gravel trap like Josef Newgarden did today.
Pato O’Ward led Practice 1 to continue his charge after 2 wins in Iowa and Toronto. Colton Herta and Marcus Armstrong followed up in 2nd and 3rd with championship points leader Alex Palou in 4th.
Tomorrow morning is the 2nd Practice session followed by Qualifying for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey. More to come tomorrow from Weather Tech Raceway.
Article and Photos: Chuck Null
