[h=2]Rossi, Honda start fast at Road America[/h] Friday, 23 June 2017


By Marshall Pruett / Image by IMS Photo






Andretti Autosport's Alexander Rossi topped the field Friday morning at a warm and sunny Road America. The Honda-powered driver is especially adept at high-commitment tracks like the sprawling 4.0-mile road course, and posted a lap of 1m43.3285s in his No. 98 entry early in the session and held the spot until the end.
The 2016 Indy 500 winner led a trio of Team Penske Chevys as Simon Pagenaud (-0.2340s), Will Power (-0.4223s) and Josef Newgarden (-0.4495), who were well behind the Andretti driver. Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (-0.5709s) and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports James Hinchcliffe (-0.5762s) completed the top six with their Honda-powered cars. SPM's Robert Wickens, who is standing in for Mikhail Aleshin, was 20th in his first official outing.
The 45-minute opener had a bit of drama at various points of the session. Dale Coyne Racing's Esteban Gutierrez only managed to turn four laps due to a right-rear brake disc fire (pictured, Marshall Pruett photo) that started when he came to a stop on pit lane. The DCR spent the remainder of the session tending to the right-rear corner but were unable to get the Mexican out for more running.
A.J. Foyt Racing's Carlos Munoz had a minor off and Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay closed the session with an off that left the No. 28 Honda stranded in the gravel. Extricating the car took some time; once it was free, Hunter-Reay pulled onto pit lane and found the majority of IndyCar teams had already packed up and returned to their transporters.

 

How could Penske lose?
RACER's Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller break down the Kohler Grand Prix IndyCar race at Road America, won by Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi Racing and Honda.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2ZXztLqkfI