Herta Takes Laguna Seca Warmup Ahead of IndyCar Showdown

Coastal Fog Prompts Practice Reschedule as Championship Battle Heats Up

Colton Herta has signaled his intent at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, topping the rescheduled final practice session ahead of Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. This mirrors his past successes at the circuit, where he has claimed two victories.

Practice Pace Reflects Laguna Seca Prowess

The thirty-minute “warmup” session, moved earlier due to anticipated lingering coastal fog, saw Herta set the fastest lap at 1 minute, 9.6028 seconds. Championship leader Alex Palou trailed in second, with a time of 1:10.0273. Pato O’Ward, Palou‘s closest championship rival, was eleventh.

Herta previously won at Laguna Seca in 2019 and 2021. Palou secured victories in 2022 and 2024. Scott Dixon, a three-time winner in the series, posted the third-fastest time in practice.

Championship Picture: Palou Leads Dominant Season

Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, starts on pole for the second consecutive year. He won last year’s event by nearly two seconds over Herta. Palou currently holds a commanding 99-point lead over O’Ward in the standings with four races remaining.

While Kyle Kirkwood and Scott Dixon remain mathematically in contention, their chances hinge on significant turnarounds. This season, the average points gap between first and second place in the IndyCar championship standings has been 41 points entering the final four races, highlighting Palou‘s exceptional performance.

Incidents Mar Practice Session

Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden experienced a difficult practice. He spun and slid into the gravel at Turn 3. Earlier on Saturday, Newgarden also found himself stuck in the gravel at the track’s iconic Corkscrew corner.

Sunday’s 95-lap race is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET start, with broadcast coverage on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app, and the INDYCAR Radio Network.