Colton Herta and Alex Palou Dominate Final Practice at Laguna Seca

In a striking reminder of their past successes at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Colton Herta and Alex Palou secured the top two fastest laps in the final pre-race practice session for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey. This session, which took place on Saturday, October 21, 2023, was rescheduled due to the anticipated coastal fog that often shrouds the Monterey Peninsula.

Colton Herta, a two-time winner at this iconic circuit, clocked a best lap of 1 minute, 9.6028 seconds, while Alex Palou closely followed with a time of 1:10.0273 seconds. Herta's performance not only reaffirmed his competitive edge but also highlighted his agility in adapting to the challenging conditions that the Laguna Seca circuit presents.

Palou, currently leading the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings, is a formidable contender, having previously triumphed at Laguna Seca in both 2022 and 2024. His consistent performance has positioned him as a significant threat to his competitors, including Pato O’Ward, who finished the practice session in 11th place with a time of 1:10.5414 seconds.

The practice session featured a total of 27 cars, with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon—the only other driver besides Herta and Palou to have won at Laguna Seca—finishing third in the warm-up. Dixon's historical success at the track adds another layer of intrigue as the race approaches. The 95-lap race is scheduled for Sunday at 3:00 PM ET, and it will be broadcast on FOX, FOX Deportes, and the FOX Sports app.

Despite the promising warm-up times, past performance in practice does not always translate into race success. Notably, Palou will start from the pole position for the second consecutive year, having won last year’s race by a margin of 1.978 seconds over Herta. This season, Palou has two of the last three Laguna Seca victories, including a commanding win in 2022, where he led by over 30 seconds.

As the championship race intensifies, Palou leads O’Ward by a substantial 99 points, with only four races remaining in the season. Other contenders, like Kyle Kirkwood and Scott Dixon, remain mathematically eligible but face steep odds, trailing significantly behind in points.

The session also saw a notable incident involving Team Penske's Josef Newgarden, who lost control of his car and slid into the gravel at Turn 3. Newgarden's challenging season continued as he struggled to find his pace, having faced similar issues earlier in the weekend.

As the drivers prepare for the race, the stakes are high. With weather conditions remaining unpredictable, and the pressure mounting, the Java House Grand Prix promises to be an exhilarating contest that could have significant implications for the championship standings.

In summary, the pre-race warm-up has set the stage for a thrilling race at Laguna Seca, where Herta and Palou’s performances will be closely watched as they vie for victory against a backdrop of competitive tension and strategic maneuvering.