E.J Viso, left, gives Ryan Hunter-Reay a push on his scooter at they make their way to the pits for the second practice session at the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Friday, July 20, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
July 20, 2012 - 2:47 PM
EDMONTON - Rookie driver Simon Pagenaud led the way in the first practice session of the Edmonton Indy on Friday.
Mike Conway, Justin Wilson, Graham Rahal, and Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five after the hour-long session on the 2.2-mile, 13-turn temporary street course at Edmonton's City Centre Airport.
It was not a good session for James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and the rest of the Andretti Autosport team.
Hinchcliffe, from Oakville Ont., was 18th while Hunter-Reay, the series leader was 22nd.
Hinchcliffe said they were heading back to look at the readouts and split times to see where they were losing time on the track.
There were no accidents, although many drivers, including Hinchcliffe and Lachenaie, Que., native Alex Tagliani, spun off the hairpin on Turn 5.
Hinchcliffe chalked that up to drivers testing limits, still trying to find the best racing line on a cold track, and said it would be cleared up by qualifying.
Tagliani was 11th.
The engine problems continued for Simona De Silvestro.
Her Lotus powerplant began smoking early in the practice session.
She said it was a leaky turbo that was quickly repaired.
De Silvestro is already on her sixth engine, which is one over the limit, and as such has already incurred a 10-spot penalty on the starting grid.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012