From pole, McElrea staved off the challenge of Linus Lundqvist of HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing at Turn 4, while Matthew Brabham moved his Andretti entry pass the Global Racing HMD car of Benjamin Pedersen on Lap 1 and then took Lundqvist on Lap 2.
In fact, Lundqvist had to then work hard to hold off teammate Pedersen, the latter dropping wheels in the dirt trying to get through. Meanwhile another HMD driver, Danial Frost, suffered a mechanical issue, losing power and trailing into the pits on Lap 3.
