[h=2]Honda, Chevy swap top spots in Sebring practice[/h] Tuesday, 27 February 2018


By Marshall Pruett / Image by IMS Photo


The final, wide-scale Verizon IndyCar Series test is under way at Sebring International Raceway, and based on the unofficial times, Andretti Autosport and Honda were pleased after the morning session.

Of the 15 drivers who turned laps, Marco Andretti was fastest with a 51.49s lap around the Sebring short course, followed by his three teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay (51.51s), Zach Veach (51.57s) and Alexander Rossi (51.72s). Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon was fifth in his Honda (51.78s) and both Schmidt Peterson Motorsports drivers took sixth and seventh with James Hinchcliffe (51.93s) and Robert Wickens (51.96s) a fraction behind.
Team Penske's Will Power was first among the Chevy-powered drivers in the morning in eighth (52.09s), and teammates Josef Newgarden (52.24s) and Simon Pagenaud (52.30s) completed the top 10. Michael Shank Racing, which saw its new Dallara DW12-Honda turn its first laps with Jack Harvey behind the wheel, was 11th (52.61s), followed by CGR's Ed Jones (52.78s), Carlin Racing's Charlie Kimball (52.80s), and Juncos Racing's Rene Binder, who made his series debut (52.92s). Carlin's Max Chilton completed the field (53.24s).
In the windy afternoon session, Chevy took the top spot with Newgarden (51.37s) ahead of Dixon (51.40s), Hunter-Reay (51.59s), Power (51.60s) and Andretti (51.69s) filling the top five.
The remaining spots went to Hinchcliffe (51.73s), Jones (51.79s), Rossi (51.85s), Wickens (51.86s), Pagenaud (51.87s), Veach (51.90s), Chilton (52.40s), Kyle Kaiser in the Juncos Chevy (52.45s), Harvey (52.53s) and Kimball (52.73s).
Barring a few spins, no damage was reported.
On Wednesday, only Carlin and Shank are scheduled to stay and join A.J. Foyt Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. All teams will return next week for the season opener at St. Petersburg.