---
title: "IndyCar Teams Hit the Grand Prix Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway"
description: "Alexander Rossi's Honda-powered racer topped the timesheets on Friday's IndyCar test."
date: "2018-03-24"
modified: "2018-03-24"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19561/indycar-teams-hit-the-grand-prix-track-at-indianapolis-motor-speedway"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Andretti Autosport"
  - "Indianapolis Motor Speedway"
  - "indycar"
  - "Indycar Series"
  - "Penske"
  - "Practice"
  - "racing"
---

# IndyCar Teams Hit the Grand Prix Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/img_7638-copy.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Several IndyCar teams and drivers selected by their respective manufacturers took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course on Friday afternoon. The test gave series' veterans the chance to squeeze in some laps ahead of the 2018 Grand Prix of Indy, but also awarded several rookies a chance to get behind the wheel of a [2018 IndyCar](<https://www.thedrive.com/video/18826/heres-what-the-2018-indycar-body-kit-looks-like-up-close>).

The road course test was initially delayed about 90 minutes due to lower-than-expected ambient and track temperatures. *The Drive*, who was on-site at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, recorded an air temperature of just 35 degrees at 11 a.m. EST, which was the original starting time for the test session.

![message-editor%2F1521927060510-img\_7652copy.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1521927060510-img_7652copy.jpg>)
*Alexander Rossi walks away a happy man after setting the day's fastest time., *DrivesWGirls**

The sun eventually came out and so did [Will Power](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/13862/will-powers-indycar-accident-at-gateway-is-why-cockpit-protection-is-needed-now>), who felt confident the track temperature had risen enough to lap the 1.9-mile circuit safely. Power's Chevy-engined racer managed to impress with a lap time of just 69.14 seconds, which was originally recorded as the day's fastest lap.

According to *Motorsport*, an ECU-data review later in the day revealed that Andretti Autosport's [Alexander Rossi](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/13676/watch-indy-500-winner-alexander-rossi-do-burnouts-and-donuts-in-a-honda-civic-type-r>) recorded a lap time of 69.08 seconds, edging Power's best lap by six-tenths of a second. Other IndyCar veterans that got on with the program included Penske's Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud who scored the third- and fourth-fastest practice times.

![message-editor%2F1521927114079-img\_7667copy.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1521927114079-img_7667copy.jpg>)
*Pietro Fittipaldi on IndyCar testing duty with Dale Coyne Racing., *DrivesWGirls**

The biggest surprise of the day came courtesy of IndyCar rookie Jordan King who piloted the Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevy machine to the second-fastest spot of the day. King, who qualified fourth on the grid at the [Grand Prix of St. Petersburg](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19143/sebastien-bourdais-wins-a-dramatic-indycar-grand-prix-of-st-petersburg>), managed to eclipse his teammate Spencer Pigot with a lap time of 69.19 seconds.

Other rookies that took to the road course included Indy Lights driver Aaron Telitz, who had the opportunity to drive James Hinchcliffe's [Schmidt Peterson Motorsport](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/10281/quadriplegic-racer-sam-schmidt-faces-off-with-mario-andretti-at-indy>) race car, and Pietro Fittipaldi, who put in a solid 70 laps at the wheel of the Dale Coyne Racing-Honda machine.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)