Simon Pagenaud set fastest time in the first practice session of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season, but Penske-Chevrolet teammate Will Power caused the first red flag. Pagenaud laid down a 1min01.7246sec, an average speed of 104.982mph to head Jack Hawksworth, who spearheaded a strong showing for AJ Foyt Racing-Honda. Just 0.0624sec behind Pagenaud, third-year driver Hawksworth led his teammate and former St. Pete polesitter Takuma Sato by 0.02sec, with Penske’s Helio Castroneves splitting the pair. 2014 champion Power, who has taken five pole positions and two wins at this track, lost control at Turn 9 on his fifth lap while adjusting his brake bias, and struck the outside wall...
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