The final practice session of the 2019 IndyCar Classic came to end with Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport on top.
Under cloudy and cooler temperatures on Saturday, Alexander Rossi in his no. 27 Andretti set the fastest lap time of 1m 46.914s with an average speed of 184.752 KPH around the 5.487 KM long Circuit of the Americas.
The rookie Felix Rosenqvist was a just one tenth behind Rossi, he set a lap time of 1m 47.053s with an average speed of 184.546 KPH in his no. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing.
“You think just looking at this track and the length of it and everything, that there’d be some separation,” said Rossi referring to the fact that he was tenth faster than Felix.
“But yet again, this championship and these teams and drivers always end up on top of each other – which is what this championship is all about. It’s what pushes us each day and forces us to be on the top of our game.”
Grahan Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was third (1m 47.439s) and Ryan Hunter of Andretti’s Autosport was fourth with a lap time of 1m 47.536s. Championship leader and St. Petersburg GP winner Will Power was fifth with a lap time of 1m 47.537s.
“If you’re missing it a little bit, the Fast Six is going to be tough to get into, just like a 60-second lap (on shorter circuits),” said Rossi.
“Which is crazy to think about, but that’s the way it is.”
Drivers again spent much of the 45-minute session testing the limits of the track, with many running into the wide runoff area at the next-to-last of the course’s 20 turns in an effort to carry as much speed through the corner as possible.
Marcus Ericsson of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports slid through the gravel at turn 19 and found himself into the wheel barrier, bringing out a red flag.
Scott Dixon finished the session in sixth with a lap time of 1m 47.621s just 6 tenths behind Rossi. A total of 242 laps were done in the third practice session.
Comments