IndyCar

Pagenaud leads the way in opening Elkhart Lake practice

1 Mins read
Simon Pagenaud - Credit: Chris Jones / IndyCar

Championship leader Simon Pagenaud set the pace in the opening practice session on the Verizon IndyCar Series’ return to Road America.

The Team Penske driver set a time of 1:43.480 to set the pace as top level American single seater racing returns to the Elkhart Lake circuit for the first time since 2007.

Scott Dixon had set the pace up until Pagenaud’s session topping time, but the New Zealander was forced to settle for fourth after late quick laps from Andretti Autosport’s Carlos Munoz and AJ Foyt Racing’s Jack Hawksworth saw the Colombian and Briton finish second and third respectively.

Dixon’s Chip Ganassi Racing team-mate Tony Kanaan completed the top five, with Marco Andretti sixth for Andretti Autosport ahead of Alexander Rossi of Andretti Herta Autosport, while James Hinchcliffe was eighth for Schmidt Peterson Motorsport.

Graham Rahal was ninth for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing outfit, while the top ten was completed by Josef Newgarden of Ed Carpenter Racing, who will be evaluated at the end of the day to check whether he is fit enough to race this weekend after being injured in a high speed crash with Conor Daly at the Texas Motor Speedway two weeks ago.

Whereas Pagenaud set the pace, his Penske team-mates were all outside the top ten, with Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and Helio Castroneves eleventh, twelfth and sixteenth respectively.

Road America Free Practice 1 Times

[table id=1196 /]

13760 posts

About author
Long time motorsport fanatic, covering Formula 1 and the occassional other series. Feel free to give him a follow on Twitter at @Paul11MSport.
Articles
Related posts
IndyCarOpen Wheel

Dale Coyne Racing adds Harvey, Braun and Siegel in split 2024 schedule

2 Mins read
After months of speculation, DCR announced its 2024 driver lineup on Tuesday, just three days before cars are on track for the first race of the IndyCar season.
IndyCarOpen Wheel

Marco Andretti returns to the #98 for 2024 Indy 500

1 Mins read
IndyCar veteran Marco Andretti will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 this year the same way he has for the past three: as a one-off affair with Andretti Global’s (formerly Andretti Autosport) #98 car.
IndyCarOpen Wheel

Gil de Ferran, 1967-2023

3 Mins read
Gil de Ferran, 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time CART series champion died on Friday at 56.