A number of drivers were held back with their setup during the opening two practice sessions for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama around the Barber Motorsports Park.
Although the entire field took part in an open test at the venue back in March, the warmer conditions experienced during practice created many headaches up and down the paddock.
During the two sessions there were three red flag delays, all for minor mistakes. However, almost half of the field reported issues with regards to grip levels and their setup after the day’s action.
Long Beach race winner James Hinchcliffe could only manage P8 and P16 respectively in the first two practice sessions of the weekend, reporting balance issues in particular during the second session.
"Pretty rough day for us to be honest,” explained Hinchcliffe.
“We just seemed to miss the balance, especially in the afternoon as the track got hotter.
“I don't think we maximised our new tyre runs, but the balance was never exactly where the crew wanted it.
“We certainly have our work cut out for us because the field is very close, as it always is, and being a couple tenths off is going to put you a few rows back.”
Even Chip Ganassi Racing struggled somewhat throughout the day, with four-time champion Scott Dixon ending practice one off the pace in P10.
Meanwhile Ganassi team-mate Tony Kanaan seemed to struggle even more, ending the two sessions P18 and P11 respectively.
"We really struggled out there to find grip,” said Kanaan.
“It didn't help that it was so much hotter today than it was when we tested here a month ago.
“I'm definitely not happy with where we were, but I'm feeling good about the direction we need to go to get the car quick for qualifying.”
Championship leader Sebastien Bourdais was one of the many drivers who also struggled during practice, causing one of the three red flag delays across the two sessions.
In practice one the Frenchman ran wide at Turn 1 and collected an advertising board, before stopping at Turn 5 to allow the Holmatro safety team to remove it from the front of the car.
"It was a tough day,” lamented Bourdais, who sits 19 points clear at the top of the championship.
“There’s something I'm not putting my finger on and I'm struggling to understand and explain what the car is doing.
“I just seem to have a tough time to make sense of everything.
“It’s been a weird day.”
Ominously the Chevrolet-powered Penske cars enjoyed a productive day of track action, with Simon Pagenaud ending the first session fastest overall.
