Photo Credit: Chris Jones/IndyCar
For the first practice for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, Hondas showed speed as Seven Hondas were in the top-10, something we’re not used to seeing as Chevrolet has dominated in the first three events this season.
Still, the fastest speed was set by a Chevrolet, as Sebastien Bourdais, driver of the No. 11 KVSH Racing Team Hydroxcut Chevrolet, topped the charts.
But the rest of the top-five were all Hondas, as in second was Jack Hawksworth, driver of the No. 41 A.J. Foyt Enterprises ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Honda.
Third and fourth were Andretti Autosport teammates Carlos Munoz, driver of the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Honda, and Ryan Hunter-Reay, driver of the No. 28 DHL Honda. Rounding out the top-five was Hawksworth’s Foyt teammate Takuma Sato, driver of the No. ABC Supply Honda.
Sixth through tenth were as follows: James Hinchcliffe, Graham Rahal, Simon Pagenaud, Luca Flippi and reigning champ Scott Dixon.
The session did have a few incidents. Mikhail Aleshin went through the grass but was able to continue on track, while Tony Kanaan had in electrical issue and was only able to have six laps of practice during the session. The final two minutes of practice, Juan Pablo Montoya was forced to sit out as he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after hitting Bourdais on track during the session.
Next up is second practice for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama this afternoon at 4:00-5:15PM EST.
