The NTT IndyCar Series is visiting the Detroit street course on Belle Isle for the first time in two years, and Friday was reserved for the weekend’s sole practice session.
Will Power led the way with a fast lap as time expired, completing the course in a time of 1:17:2738.
He narrowly beat out Sebastien Bourdais and Pato O’Ward, who each spent time at the top of the timesheets as well.
Romain Grosjean returned to the driver’s seat after watching the Indy 500 from the sidelines, and placed his Dale Coyne Racing Honda in 13th
Grosjean had a spin in the exit of turn 3, but was able to stab the throttle and kept from losing his rear wing to the barriers by the smallest of margins.
Jimmie Johnson also returned to his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and completed 26 laps with a fast time of 1:22.7353.
No Time to waste
With this practice session being the only one of the weekend, there was no time to waste for all the drivers.
From the outset, everyone was on the limit and had their powerful single-seaters dancing around the course, just inches from the wall.
The track was busy, and for the most part drivers got away with their small mistakes and were able to continue learning the course.
Scott McLaughlin was not able to utilize much of the session, however, as he ran off course early, touched the tire barriers, and brought out a short red flag.
The lack of running will be extra hard on the Kiwi since it is his first time visiting the temporary course, and will have to qualify with only five laps under his belt.
Hot, hot, hot
The practice session was representative of the conditions expected for the rest of the weekend, meaning it was very hot and humid.
To add to that, the tight, windy, and bumpy 2.35-mile course demanded every ounce of strength from the drivers under the afternoon sun.
Rinus VeeKAy made the most of the time, completing 32 laps before running wide in turn 1 and taking an exciting trip through the grass.
The entire field will have their fitness put to the test this weekend, as they navigate two qualifying sessions and two full races over the next two days.
Qualifying begins Saturday at 11:00 Eastern time, followed by race 1 of the double-header at 14:00.
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