Team Penske’s Will Power ended up the fastest driver in Friday practice on the Twin Ring Motegi road circuit that has received high praises from everyone.
Teammate Helio Castroneves was second while Canadian James Hinchcliffe (Newman-Haas Racing) clocked the third fastest time of the session.
The other Penske driver, Ryan Briscoe was fourth while Marco Andretti (Andretti Autosport) was the last man in the top 5.
Friday pacesetter Will Power, as well as a number of other prominent IndyCar drivers, said they were very impressed with the quality and layout of the track.
Power’s only concern was at the lack of potential for overtaking.
The championship is using the venue's 2.983-mile road course for the first time this year, as the oval was damaged during March's earthquake in Japan.
A very productive day for the other Canadian, as Alex Tagliani (Sam Schmidt) finished the practice session in sixth.
Guest driver Joao Paulo de Oliveira impressed everyone as he acclimatised to IndyCar very rapidly to take eighth for Conquest Racing.
IndyCar Indy Japan 300 – Friday session
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Will Power Penske 1m39.4745s
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m39.5965s + 0.1220s
3. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 1m39.8531s + 0.3786s
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m40.1887s + 0.7142s
5. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m40.2584s + 0.7839s
6. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 1m40.2649s + 0.7904s
7. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m40.3108s + 0.8363s
8. Joao Paulo de Oliveira Conquest 1m40.3299s + 0.8554s
9. Sebastien Bourdais Dale Coyne 1m40.3948s + 0.9203s
10. Takuma Sato KV 1m40.4435s + 0.9690s
11. Hideki Mutoh AFS/Sam Schmidt 1m40.5328s + 1.0583s
12. JR Hildebrand Panther 1m40.5435s + 1.0690s
13. James Jakes Dale Coyne 1m40.5580s + 1.0835s
14. Tony Kanaan KV 1m40.6600s + 1.1855s
15. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m40.7175s + 1.2430s
16. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m40.7389s + 1.2644s
17. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m40.7961s + 1.3216s
18. EJ Viso KV 1m40.8351s + 1.3606s
19. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 1m40.8577s + 1.3832s
20. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 1m40.9505s + 1.4760s
21. Giorgio Pantano Dreyer & Reinbold 1m40.9659s + 1.4914s
22. Graham Rahal Ganassi 1m41.2056s + 1.7311s
23. Mike Conway Andretti 1m41.2987s + 1.8242s
24. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m41.4164s + 1.9419s
25. Simona de Silvestro HVM 1m41.4495s + 1.9750s
26. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 1m41.4711s + 1.9966s
Teammate Helio Castroneves was second while Canadian James Hinchcliffe (Newman-Haas Racing) clocked the third fastest time of the session.
The other Penske driver, Ryan Briscoe was fourth while Marco Andretti (Andretti Autosport) was the last man in the top 5.
Friday pacesetter Will Power, as well as a number of other prominent IndyCar drivers, said they were very impressed with the quality and layout of the track.
Power’s only concern was at the lack of potential for overtaking.
The championship is using the venue's 2.983-mile road course for the first time this year, as the oval was damaged during March's earthquake in Japan.
A very productive day for the other Canadian, as Alex Tagliani (Sam Schmidt) finished the practice session in sixth.
Guest driver Joao Paulo de Oliveira impressed everyone as he acclimatised to IndyCar very rapidly to take eighth for Conquest Racing.
IndyCar Indy Japan 300 – Friday session
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Will Power Penske 1m39.4745s
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m39.5965s + 0.1220s
3. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 1m39.8531s + 0.3786s
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m40.1887s + 0.7142s
5. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m40.2584s + 0.7839s
6. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 1m40.2649s + 0.7904s
7. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m40.3108s + 0.8363s
8. Joao Paulo de Oliveira Conquest 1m40.3299s + 0.8554s
9. Sebastien Bourdais Dale Coyne 1m40.3948s + 0.9203s
10. Takuma Sato KV 1m40.4435s + 0.9690s
11. Hideki Mutoh AFS/Sam Schmidt 1m40.5328s + 1.0583s
12. JR Hildebrand Panther 1m40.5435s + 1.0690s
13. James Jakes Dale Coyne 1m40.5580s + 1.0835s
14. Tony Kanaan KV 1m40.6600s + 1.1855s
15. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m40.7175s + 1.2430s
16. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m40.7389s + 1.2644s
17. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m40.7961s + 1.3216s
18. EJ Viso KV 1m40.8351s + 1.3606s
19. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 1m40.8577s + 1.3832s
20. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 1m40.9505s + 1.4760s
21. Giorgio Pantano Dreyer & Reinbold 1m40.9659s + 1.4914s
22. Graham Rahal Ganassi 1m41.2056s + 1.7311s
23. Mike Conway Andretti 1m41.2987s + 1.8242s
24. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m41.4164s + 1.9419s
25. Simona de Silvestro HVM 1m41.4495s + 1.9750s
26. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 1m41.4711s + 1.9966s