Indycar News: Newgarden tops opening practice for Alabama GP

After facing the media to confess to cheating at St. Petersburg, Josef Newgarden turned the fastest lap of 1m06.7045s in opening practice for the Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix NTT IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park.

Newgarden was just 0.083s faster than the Arrow McLaren of Pato O’Ward, while Newgarden’s Team Penske teammate Will Power rounded out the top-3 and gave Chevy powered cars a 1-2-3 on opening day. Power was just 0.0869s behind his teammate.

Colton Herta was the fastest Honda-powered car, 0.095s behind Newgarden.

Christian Lundgaard was 0.197s behind in his Rahal Honda to round out the top-5.

Rounding out the top 10 were Christian Lundgaard (#45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda), Romain Grosjean (#77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet), Graham Rahal (#15 RLL Honda), Marcus Armstrong (#11 Chip Ganassi Honda), McLaughlin, and Ericsson.

The top-20 spec IndyCars were within 1-second of each other and top man Newgarden.

Scott McLaughlin had gone quickest in the 45th minute on a 1m07.2371s with primary tires on the #3 Penske Chevrolet, after which the field began the switch to the soft red Firestones.

The IndyCar drivers were spinning or going off the track all around the circuit as the undulating circuit put their talent to the test.

Newgarden had brought out an early red flag when he spun exiting Turn 13.

Not to be outdone, McLaren team-mates Alexander Rossi (#7 Chevrolet) and Pato O’Ward also went off at Turn 13.

Practice 1 Results