Photo by Kyle McInnes

Colton Herta led the first practice session for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Andretti Autosport put three drivers in the top six. Alexander Rossi finished third and Romain Grosjean was fourth.

Defending race winner and series champion Alex Palou was second and Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon was sixth. Marcus Ericsson put a third Gaanssi car in top ten with the ninth fastest time.

Scott McLaughlin was the only Team Penske car in the top 10 in fifth place.

Pato O’Ward, the 2021 Barber pole sitter was seventh.

Rookie Callum Ilott had the eighth fastest time,

The session ran uninterrupted.

The top 13

Notes

The crowd seemed smaller than atypical Friday Barber crowd. I find that odd since the track declared tomorrow and Sunday sellouts.

The Fan Zone appeared to be the most robust in several years. There are a lot of vendors and expanded food choices.

Danial Frost led the Indy Lights practice session with a time of 1: 12.6511. Matthew Brabham, winner of the first race at St. Pete, was sixth.

A chance of rain looms for qualifying tomorrow and a better chance of precipitation is possible Sunday.

It was nice see flowers in bloom at Barber again.