Photo Credit; Chris Jones/IndyCar
After finding themselves out of the picture to win in the final stages at Indianapolis, Team Penske is hoping to return to victory lane this weekend
Will Power topped the charts with a lap of one minute and 15.0197 seconds, just 0.56 seconds ahead of his teammate Helio Castroneves. Notably, Power always quick on the street and road courses. In his last four starts on the temporary street course, he has posted a win and three top fives. Meanwhile, Helio Castroneves was part of the discussion to win at Indy until contact with another driver broke his rear wing, all but ending his chance of winning. Sitting third in points, the Brazilian needs a good run to cut into teammate Simon Pagenaud’s 68-point cushion. Castroneves is no stranger to success in Detroit, winning in 2014. He has six top-10 finishes in his last seven starts at Belle Isle.
Scott Dixon was third quickest as he looks to gain valuable ground in the points this weekend. Coming into the weekend, he leads active drivers with the best average finish at Detroit (6.9) following a win in 2012 to go with a pair of top fives in his last four starts. The New Zealand native needs a strong run as he was never part of the discussion for the win in Indianapolis, quietly piloting himself to an eighth-place finish.
Currently leading the standings by 57 points over Dxon, Pagenaud was fourth quickest in the practice. He started the year off strong with five straight podiums, including a win on the streets of Long Beach. Pagenaud has had success at Detroit in the past, finishing third last year to go with a win in 2013.
James Hinchcliffe rounded out the top-five as he looks to carry the momentum from a third and seventh during the month of May into Detroit. His last two starts in Detroit have gone in his favor with finishes of sixth and fifth.
Graham Rahal was sixth, followed by Sebastian Bourdais, Josef Newgarden, Marco Andretti and Carlos Munoz.
There were a pair of red flags during the session, both resulting from issues for Mikhail Aleshin. He spun for the first one, followed by stalling for the second.
