The NTT IndyCar Series brought the heat to the stunning central coast of California for a gripping race at the iconic Laguna Seca. The 95-lap, 212 total mile road course, renowned for its challenging turns like the Corkscrew and Andretti Hairpin, promised an unforgettable spectacle, that saw Alex Palou take the win.
The green flag waved, and all 27 cars surged into the Andretti Hairpin, with Kyle Kirkwood seizing the lead from Alex Palou shortly after. Impressive early moves saw Christian Rasmussen climb five spots in the first few laps, thanks to his alternate red Firestones.
Early Incidents and Pit Strategies
Rinus Veekay had an early scare on lap 6, spinning 360 degrees after dropping his rear tire at Turn 5 but managing to continue without stalling or triggering a caution.
On lap 18, Marcus Ericsson became the first to pit, switching to fresh alternate tires, sparking a wave of pit stops from Rahal, Veekay, Power, and others.
Despite running in dirty air, Palou kept pressuring Kirkwood from second place. By lap 25, Kirkwood, Herta, and Lundgaard pitted, while McLaughlin continued on his alternate tires.
The pit strategy split the field, with some drivers like Palou and Dixon opting for overcuts. While Rossi, Herta, and Kirkwood attempted the undercut.
Mid-Race Drama and Cautions
Lap 26 saw Palou and Dixon pit, but Lundgaard’s run-off at Turn 9 caused downforce issues due to the debris on his front wing. Palou rejoined second after his stop, but soon fell to fourth due to cold tires.
This changed the lead order to Rossi, Kirkwood, Herta, Palou, and Dixon.
Ericsson’s near miss with Newgarden during his pit entry added to the on-track tension.
Lap 36 brought a full-course yellow when Luca Ghiotto ended his race by hitting the tire barriers on turn 5, initiating another major pit lane cycle.
Dixon’s pit entry mishap saw him make light contact with Scott McLaughlin, complicating his race further.
Strategy Battles and Late-Race Action
The restart on lap 40 saw Grosjean overtaking O’Ward, while Siegel’s gravel excursion at Turn 2 brought out another caution. By lap 45, the grid split into two strategic groups: those who pitted during Ghiotto’s yellow (Strategy B) and those who didn’t (Strategy A). Palou, Grosjean, and O’Ward were on Strategy A, while Herta, Rossi, and Kirkwood were on Strategy B.
O’Ward initiated a new pit cycle on lap 48, followed by Palou on lap 56. Palou rejoined the race behind Herta and Rossi, with Kirkwood hot on his heels.
Palou overtook Herta for the lead on lap 64, just before the Corkscrew.
Kirkwood led the final pit stops alongside Dixon, with Herta and Rossi pitting by lap 68.
Clean air allowed Palou to extend his gap to Grosjean by over 13 seconds.
Final Laps and Palou’s Victory
With 21 laps remaining, Lundgaard and Armstrong’s contact caused a full-course caution. This allowed Josef Newgarden to pit without needing to complete an out lap after, placing him in second behind Palou.
The restart saw McLaughlin penalized for avoidable contact when the 3 car dive-bombed his teammates car of Will Power. The 3 car spun and completed a full 360 and continued on. Shortly after, further chaos ensued with multiple incidents and penalties.
With 10 laps to go, Jack Harvey’s engine issues brought out another caution. The 18 car stranded with smoke from the engine in the pit lane exit.
The penultimate restart saw Canapino’s front wing puncturing the back left tire of Kyffin Simpson, leading to a collision with the 15 car of Graham Rahal. This brought out another caution and ending both Simpson’s and Rahal’s race.
The final restart with four laps remaining saw Palou build a two-second lead. Newgarden’s spin on the last lap dropped him to 19th, sealing the top 5 finishers. Palou secured his fourth consecutive podium and second win in a row, accompanied by Herta and Rossi on the podium.
Conclusion and Next Race
P1 FOR PALOU 🏆@AlexPalou secures another win at @WeatherTechRcwy!#INDYCAR // #FirestoneGP pic.twitter.com/WcRymmP8Bh
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) June 24, 2024
Despite six cautions and numerous penalties, Laguna Seca delivered another thrilling race. Palou’s win highlighted his skill and marked the end of the combustion engine era. As the series heads to Mid-Ohio on July 7th, fans eagerly anticipate the debut of the new hybrid engines from Honda and Chevrolet. Tune in to witness the next chapter in this exciting season.
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