Mid-Ohio - EL1: Palou the fastest, the rain waiting

Álex Palou (Ganassi) set the best time in the first session of the weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. A session which saw the beginnings of hybrid technology, but also a downpour, which disrupted this first run!

Published 06/07/2024 à 09:48

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Mid-Ohio – EL1: Palou fastest, rain waiting

The champion IndyCar in title only completed eight small loops, enough to set the best time with half a second ahead of the Arrow McLaren by Alexander Rossi. Another Ganassi, that of Marcus Armstrong, is in third place. This session was above all an opportunity for observers to discover the hybrid system in action for the first time, which is making its debut this weekend in IndyCar.

Based on supercapacitors rather than batteries, the system is similar to that of KERS, used in Formula 1 between 2009 and 2013. Pilots can recover kinetic energy in the supercapacitors, and restore it using a button. Like the system used at the time in F1, each driver has a deployment limit per lap. It was set at 280 kilojoules, IndyCar decided to increase it to 310 kJ. That's how everyone gets 60 extra horsepower at the push of a button for approximately nine seconds per lap on the Mid-Ohio circuit. IndyCar reserves the right to modify the maximum amount of energy available per lap throughout the weekend, and the end of the season.

Rainy session, happy session?

The session was therefore important for all teams to learn more about the use of this new system in racing. Several drivers made mistakes, and some were able to restart directly thanks to the new electric motor-generator, which was one of the strong points of the arrival of the hybrid. A slight shudder must have run through Juncos Hollinger Racing when Agustin Canapino stopped on the track, his car leaving behind a plume of smoke. No mechanical problem strictly speaking however, simply an oil inlet pipe which was poorly fixed.

The rain came to invite itself to the party, allowing everyone to either stay quietly in the boxes, or to try to collect some data on Firestone rain tires which are not widely used during the season. Romain Grosjean (Juncos Hollinger) finished the session in 16th place. Toby Sowery (Coyne), who is making his IndyCar debut this weekend, finished 21st, ahead of his experienced teammate Jack Harvey, who made a mistake mid-session.