INDIANAPOLIS – Alexander Rossi was the fastest driver in Friday morning’s GMR Grand Prix of Indianapolis practice session with a lap at 1:09.8784 around the 14-turn, 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Friday morning’s practice session was the first of two practices that will be held Friday before qualifications late Friday afternoon that will determine the starting lineup for Saturday’s annual road course contest that kicks off the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
RESULTS: GMR Grand Prix Practice One
The biggest news of the session came off the track as Carlin announced it was withdrawing from the race because driver Max Carlin had a travel issue. Rather than find a different driver, Carlin will not participate in the GMR Grand Prix and will use the extra time to prepare for the May 30 105th Indianapolis 500.
Carlin’s two-car Indy Lights team will take to the track today as planned.
Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Honda was assessed a five-minute loss of track penalty for the next session for taking a full lap around the course after the checkered flag. Sebastien Bourdais’ No. 14 entry was also assessed a penalty for causing a red flag in practice after his car stopped off course because of an electronics issue in turn 11.
Rossi’s Andretti Autosport Honda paced the first practice followed by Jack Harvey of Meyer Shank Racing in the No. 60 Honda at 1:09.9646, just .0862 seconds behind. Rinus VeeKay’s No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet was third at 1:10.0624, followed by Josef Newgarden’s Team Penske Chevy at 1:10.0624. Romain Grosjean’s No. 51 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR rounded out the top five at 1:10.1587.
The second practice is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.