Sting Ray Robb (Andretti Autosport) navigates WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires testing (Photo Courtesy of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Twitter)

By Steve Wittich

The Sting Ray Robb and Benjamin Pedersen preseason show continued as the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires drivers and teams traveled west to California for a two-day test WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Idahoan Robb, who has not been outside the top three in any of the five recent test days, made a statement on Day #2 of activity.

The 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires champion, who had a pole in the same series at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2019, blitzed the newly repaved 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course with a lap timed at 73.852 seconds, over a quarter of a second ahead of Global Racing Group w/HMD Motorsports sophomore Pederson.

Like Robb, the Danish-born driver was in the top three in all five recent test days.

Turning in the third quickest time on the combined test sheet was Andretti Autosport rookie Hunter McElrea. The Kiwi was followed closely by HMD Motorsports’ Manuel Sulaiman in the fourth spot.

Christian Rasmussen (Andretti Autosport), the quickest driver on day #1, ended up with the fifth-fastest lap on the combined timesheet.

Ten of the 13 drivers set their quickest laps of the two days of action today, with Matthew Brabham, Danial Frost, and Christian Rasmussen setting their fastest laps yesterday.

Robb’s quick lap on the newly resurfaced iconic track was eight-tenths of a second quicker than Kyle Kirkwood’s pole lap for Race #2 last September.

Over two days, the baker’s dozen drivers completed 2246 laps (5026.55 miles). Christian Bogle (HMD Motorsports) was the busiest of the pilots, completing 208 circuits.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Indy Lights combined test days unofficial results

RANK DRIVER TEAM DAY QUICK LAP DIFFERENCE TOTAL LAPS
1 Sting Ray Robb Andretti Autosport Day 2 73.852 170
2 Benjamin Pedersen Global Racing Group w/ HMD Motorsports Day 2 74.120 -0.268 186
3 Hunter McElrea Andretti Autosport Day 2 74.399 -0.547 159
4 Manuel Sulaiman HMD Motorsports Day 2 74.476 -0.624 164
5 Christian Rasmussen Andretti Autosport Day 1 74.477 -0.625 143
6 Linus Lundqvist HMD Motorsports Day 2 74.647 -0.795 177
7 Kyffin Simpson TJ Speed Motorsports Day 2 74.687 -0.835 205
8 Jacob Abel Abel Motorsports Day 2 74.730 -0.878 164
9 Danial Frost HMD Motorsports Day 1 74.736 -0.884 162
10 Matthew Brabham Andretti Autosport Day 1 75.071 -1.219 158
11 Christian Bogle HMD Motorsports Day 2 75.133 -1.281 208
12 Ernie Francis, Jr. Force Indy Day 2 75.277 -1.425 165
13 James Roe TJ Speed Motorsports Day 2 75.885 -2.033 185

Leading the way on Day #1 was Andretti Autosport rookie and reigning Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires champion Christian Rasmussen, who completed a lap at 74.477 seconds.

That was only 0.011 seconds ahead of Global Racing Group w/HMD Motorsports sophomore Benjamin Pedersen and the top ten drivers were all within seven-tenths of a second of Rasmussen.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Indy Lights test day #1 unofficial results

RANK DRIVER TEAM QUICK LAP DIFFERENCE TOTAL LAPS
1 Christian Rasmussen Andretti Autosport 74.477 88
2 Benjamin Pedersen Global Racing Group w/ HMD Motorsports 74.488 -0.011 83
3 Sting Ray Robb Andretti Autosport 74.697 -0.22 88
4 Danial Frost HMD Motorsports 74.736 -0.259 77
5 Jacob Abel Abel Motorsports 74.779 -0.302 93
6 Hunter McElrea Andretti Autosport 74.795 -0.318 74
7 Linus Lundqvist HMD Motorsports 74.870 -0.393 99
8 Manuel Sulaiman HMD Motorsports 74.962 -0.485 83
9 Kyffin Simpson TJ Speed Motorsports 74.980 -0.503 105
10 Matthew Brabham Andretti Autosport 75.071 -0.594 91
11 Christian Bogle HMD Motorsports 75.181 -0.704 97
12 Ernie Francis, Jr. Force Indy 77.016 -2.539 72
13 James Roe TJ Speed Motorsports 77.546 -3.069 67

The top rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires will next be on track in St. Petersburg for their season opener.