IndyCar drivers faced significant tire degradation challenges during Friday's practice session at The Thermal Club, with limited opportunities for extended runs on both primary and alternate compounds.

Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward compared the track's effect on tires to "a cheese grater," likening the degradation levels to those experienced at Iowa Speedway, but in a road course setting.

Most teams were restricted to brief runs of three to five laps on the black-banded primary tires, while managing only one or two hard laps on the softer red-banded alternates. This limited testing poses a significant challenge for Sunday's 65-lap race, where primary tires are expected to last 10-15 laps between pit stops.

Andretti Global's Colton Herta noted the track's inherent difficulty due to low grip levels and rapid tire wear. However, he observed slightly improved overall tire performance compared to St. Petersburg. For qualifying, teams will need to maximize performance within a narrow window of one to two laps on the alternate compound tires.

The combination of aggressive tire wear and limited grip characteristics at The Thermal Club suggests teams will need to carefully balance performance with tire management during Sunday's race.

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