WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal went quickest in opening practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series’ INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen (1:30 p.m., NBCSN), nipping Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi as on his final lap as Rossi spent most of the session at the top of the speed charts.
Rahal’s quick lap of 1:23.2603 bettered Rossi’s 1:23.4686 by two tenths of a second. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Max Chilton and Scott Dixon ended up third and fourth, with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ James Hinchcliffe in fifth, making it a top five sweep for Honda in the opening practice.
.@GrahamRahal took the top spot on his last lap! Can he get a race win at @WGI this weekend? #INDYCAR #INDYCARGP https://t.co/1I2Xejdij6 pic.twitter.com/KmNNEFFs2i
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 1, 2017
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Spencer Pigot was the quickest Chevrolet in sixth. Championship leader Josef Newgarden was ninth, with teammates and fellow title combatants Simon Pagenaud and Helio Castroneves ending up 10th and 11th respectively.
The session saw no stoppages, although a few drivers had minor incidents. Alexander Rossi had a minor off in the bus stop chicane that saw him run slightly wide into the runoff area, while James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay had quick spins of their. However, none made any wall contact and all three quickly regrouped and continued on.
.@AlexanderRossi had a quick off in the bus stop. #INDYCAR #INDYCARGP https://t.co/1I2Xejdij6 pic.twitter.com/Piwu4BEuKU
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 1, 2017
REPLAY: @RyanHunterReay spins in Turn 8. #INDYCAR #INDYCARGP https://t.co/1I2Xejdij6 pic.twitter.com/0AbYvdDbA1
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 1, 2017
Also of note: Jack Harvey, on his debut with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, ended up 20th.
Times are below. Second practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series begins at 3:05 p.m. ET.
