Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, in the No.2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet, was fastest in the opening practice at Barber Motorsports Park, setting a time of 1:06.9679s, saying it was the best medicine following a difficult week for the team. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward was second fastest, with a time of 1:1:06.7875s, while Will Power was third.
Colton Herta was fourth fastest for Andretti Global with a time of 01:06.8002s, just ahead of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard and Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Romain Grosjean. Grosjean had a great session in sixth place, just ahead of Graham Rahal, Marcus Armstrong, and Scott McLaughlin.
Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top ten for Andretti Global with a time of 1:07.1481s while it was an excellent afternoon for AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci who was 11th in the No.14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet with a time of 01:07.1823s ending up just ahead of defending INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.
Christian Rasmussen was 13th fastest for Ed Carpenter Racing just ahead of his teammate Rinus VeeKay and Linus Lindqvist. Agustin Canapino was 16th just ahead of Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood. Tom Blomqvist was 19th just ahead of Pietro Fittipaldi while Long Beach race winner Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda who was 21st just ahead of Alexander Rossi and Jack Harvey.
Kyffin Simpson was 24th just ahead of Theo Pourchaire and Sting Ray Robb while Luca Ghiotto rounded out the order.