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MRTI: Barber Friday Notebook

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Parker Thompson during practice at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography

Chris Owens

Friday at Barber Motorsports Park saw the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires take to the 2.38-mile road course for practice, with Pro Mazda adding a qualifying session for Race 1.

Pro Mazda qualifying saw St. Petersburg winner Rinus Veekay struggle, with the pole going to one of his championship rivals, while Santi Urrutia shined in Indy Lights practice.

Reports on both series are below.

Pro Mazda: Parker Thompson Soars to Race 1 Pole; Veekay Starts Seventh

Exclusive Autosport’s Parker Thompson scored the pole for Pro Mazda Race 1 on Saturday, with a quick lap of 1:16.895, the only lap in the 1:16 bracket.

Thompson will be joined on the front row by RP Motorsport’s Harrison Scott. BN Racing’s David Malukas, and Juncos Racing teammates Carlos Cunha and Robert Megennis rounded out the top five.

Meanwhile, Rinus Veekay, Cunha’s and Megennis’ teammate at Juncos, struggled somewhat in qualifying, and will start seventh. Cape Motorsports’ Oliver Askew also struggled, and will start ninth.

Race 1 begins at 1:50 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Indy Lights: Urrutia Tops Friday Practice

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Santi Urrutia during Indy Lights practice at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography

Bret Kelley

Belardi Auto Racing’s Santi Urrutia turned only eight laps during Indy Lights Friday practice. But, he didn’t need to turn any more, as the native of Uruguay topped the speed charts with a time of 1:14.525 to start the weekend.

Andretti Steinbrenner Racing’s Colton Herta was second, followed by Urrutia’s teammate Aaron Telitz. Andretti Autosport’s Pato O’Ward was fourth, with Juncos Racing’s Victor Franzoni rounding out the Top 5.

Of note: Alfonso Celis Jr. makes his Indy Lights debut this weekend, joining Juncos as a teammate to Franzoni. Celis Jr. was eighth in Friday practice.

Qualifying for Indy Lights Race 1 is at 10:05 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, with the race scheduled for 2:50 p.m. ET.

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