Palou completed a staggering 70 laps on the circuit’s 1.67-mile layout, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and setting the fastest pace of the afternoon session with a remarkable time of 52.0883 seconds (115.419 mph).
In reflection, Palou remarked on the scarcity of testing opportunities in modern times, emphasizing the significance of utilizing the available time effectively, especially with the imminent St. Pete race just a week and a half away.
He highlighted the importance of addressing the engineering checklist that the team had formulated during the offseason, acknowledging that time was limited but essential for aligning the entire team and refining strategies face-to-face.
Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing secured the second spot, trailing Palou by a mere 0.019 seconds, closely followed by Josef Newgarden from Team Penske, who was only 0.041 seconds adrift from the top spot.
Colton Herta of Andretti Global and Alexander Rossi of Arrow McLaren completed the top five, with Rossi expressing satisfaction with the day’s progress, underlining the significance of gaining insights into the performance ahead of the St. Pete event.
Pato O’Ward claimed the sixth position, while the legendary Scott Dixon settled for seventh place. Kyle Kirkwood, who led the morning session, slipped to eighth overall by the end of the day. Notably, Scott McLaughlin and Rinus VeeKay secured the ninth and tenth positions, respectively.
Further down the ranks, Pietro Fittipaldi, Tom Blomqvist, and Agustin Canapino occupied the 11th, 12th, and 13th spots, respectively. Sting Ray Robb, transitioning to AJ Foyt Racing after his rookie year with Dale Coyne Racing, finished in 14th place.
Despite missing the morning session, Jack Harvey of Dale Coyne Racing managed to complete 63 laps in the afternoon, setting a respectable time of 53.0766 seconds.
Looking ahead, Tuesday’s sessions are expected to see a different lineup of drivers, except for O’Ward, who is substituting for the injured David Malukas.