Helio Castroneves isn't fooling anyone by feigning indecision. If he doesn't choose to invert the qualifications order for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (slowest to quickest), that would be a surprise. source: indycar.com / Dave Lewandowski There wasn't anything surprising about Castroneves' effort on the first day of practice. The defending champion topped the combined speed chart from two practice sessions on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn scenic street circuit with a quick lap of 1 minute, 1.6016 seconds (105.192 mph) on a glorious spring day. Castroneves and IndyCar Series chief steward Brian Barnhart will sign the qualifications order just before lunch. After single-lap times are posted (watch it live on indycar.com), the fastest six cars will return for the "Firestone Fast Six" - a 10-minute session in which the first three rows for the third annual race April 1 is set. Castroneves held the honor in 2005. The competition to reach the six-car shootout should be spirited. The top four cars in the afternoon session were under Dario Franchitti's track record (1:02.2753) set in qualifying last year. "We put everything together this afternoon that we weren't able to this morning," said Castroneves, who started fifth in last year's race in the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone. "It seems like we've found our way. The car is becoming tighter, but it's fun to drive. There's no question that every practice is becoming more important. "The competition on the road course is closer this year and it seems like everyone understands the car better. I'm just happy that we did a good job." Tony Kanaan was second overall in the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car (1:01.6892), while Scott Dixon followed in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing machine (1:01.8767). Franchitti, driving the No. 27 Canadian Club car, was fourth-quick (1:02.0060) and Andretti Green Racing teammate Marco Andretti (1:02.5648) was fifth in the No. 26 NYSE Group car. Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dan Wheldon, the 2005 race winner, checked in sixth (1:02.6648), and Panther Racing's Kosuke Matsuura improved four positions from the morning session to seventh (1:02.7769). "It's always good to go at the end because it gives you a better chance to improve your time," Kanaan said. "There's going to be more rubber on the track and you get to watch everybody, so you can judge what you can and can't do. Today was a good day for us. The 7-Eleven team did a great job. We wanted to be in the top three, but today doesn't matter for anything. "I know we have a strong car, and I'm not too concerned with what position we had. What counts is Sunday."
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