Pato O’Ward climbs to the top during opening practice at World Wide Technology Raceway

Pato O’Ward served notice that he is hungry to break his current podium drought, storming to the top of the charts late in the opening practice session at World Wide Technology Raceway. O’Ward pushed his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to a best lap of 172.696 mph, proving he has the machine to contend this weekend.

Points leader Alex Palou was impressive in his No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, clocking a 172.238 to end the session in second. Behind them, Felix Rosenqvist took third at 172.073 in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda, followed by his teammate Marcus Armstrong at 171.925 and Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson at 171.671.

The session was not without its drama, however. Rinus VeeKay, who had been running fourth in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, suffered a setback when his car wiggled in Turn 3. He backed into the SAFER Barrier between Turns 3 and 4, though he was thankfully unhurt.