Will Power has put Andretti Global at the centre of the Mid-Ohio weekend before qualifying has even begun.
The Australian topped opening practice for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 with a 1m05.5540s in the No. 26 Honda, leading team-mate Kyle Kirkwood by 0.1134s as Andretti locked out the top two spots in hot conditions at the 2.258-mile road course, according to IndyCar’s official report.
It immediately sharpens the pressure on Alex Palou. The championship leader was third on 1m05.7557s, ahead of Christian Lundgaard and Pato O’Ward, with qualifying for the NTT P1 Award scheduled for Saturday at 2:30pm ET.
Andretti speed changes the Mid-Ohio equation
Power’s lap matters because qualifying at Mid-Ohio usually controls the tone of the race. He already owns the series’ all-time pole record with 71, but is still chasing his first pole of 2026.
Palou still carries a 60-point lead over David Malukas after 10 of 18 races, but ReadMotorSport has already noted how Mid-Ohio can tighten the IndyCar title fight. Friday’s order suggests Andretti could now be the group forcing that compression.
There was damage elsewhere. Marcus Armstrong ended up 24th after a suspected mechanical issue sent him into the Turn 2 barrier, while Romain Grosjean also hit trouble at Turn 9. Neither driver was injured.
