Photo Credit: Chris Owens/IndyCar
Practice one for the Verizon Indy Car Series in lieu of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday took place this morning, as a familiar face rose to the top while others found trouble.
There were two incidents during the practice. The first one came along around with 16 minutes remaining in the practice. Alex Rossi, driver of the No. 98 Castrol Edge/Curb Honda, hit the tire barrier going into Turn 8. This incident brought out the red flag for 10 minutes.
They went back to green with about 15 minutes remaining, with another incident occurring with five minutes remaining on the clock. This time Charlie Kimball, driver of the No.83 Tresiba Chevrolet, crashed into the Turn 9 wall due to brake issues. This incident ended practice.
Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the No. 2 Verizon Chevrolet was on top of the charts followed by his teammate Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. Both of drive for Team Penske. Montoya is looking to rebound in Long Beach after a tough race at Phoenix International Raceway. He had a tire issue while leading; he was able to rebound for a top-10 finish. Meanwhile, Power is looking to carry the momentum of his podium in Phoenix into the weekend at Long Beach.
Third was Jack Hawksworth, driver of the No.41 ABC Supply Honda, followed by Joesef Newgarden, driver of the No. 21 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet, in fourth. Hawksworth is looking to crack the top-10 this weekend at Long Beach after finishing 19th at Phoenix while Newgarden is looking to carry his magic from a sixth place finish.
James Hinchcliffe, driver of the No. 5 Arrow Honda, was sixth overall and is looking to get his season on a good note after starting poorly in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Grand Prix of Phoenix with a pair of finishes outside of the top-10.
Ryan Hunter Reay, driver of the No.28 DHL Honda, finished seventh overall and is pulling double duty this weekend racing in the IMSA race on Saturday as well as the IndyCar race on Sunday. Hunter-Reay is looking to keep his streak of top-10’s going with another one on Sunday.
Helio Castroneves, driver of the No.3 Auto Club Chevrolet, finished eighth overall. Castroneves is looking to bounce back from a tire issue early on in the race at Phoenix that resulted in an 11th place finish.
Carlos Munoz, driver of the No.26 Muri Inmobriliaria Honda, finished ninth. Munoz is looking to bounce back after wrecking out of the Phoenix race.
Finishing out the top-10 was Scott Dixon, driver of the No.9 Target Chevrolet. finished tenth overall. Dixon is looking to keep his winning momentum from Phoenix alive at Long Beach. He is the reining Champion of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as he took the checkered flag last year.
