Rosenqvist tops frantic opening practice session

Felix Rosenqvist has ended the first practice session from Barber Motorsports Park on top of the timesheets, posting a 1:09.230

The session was heavily interrupted by a number of red flags as a series of drivers spun off, including the two A.J. Foyt cars of Tony Kanaan and Matheus Leist. 

The session ended under red as Spencer Pigot lost his car ad beached it in the gravel in the final minutes. 

The threat of rain lingered in the air throughout the session, with a few drops falling throughout. Sebastien Bourdais jumped up to second place towards the end, beating James Hinchcliffe to the spot.

Hinchcliffe was one of those who found himself facing the wrong way during the session, spinning as he returned to the pitlane. 

Scott Dixon was fourth, starting off the weekend strongly as he targets his first IndyCar win around the Alabama track. He was in front of Ryan Hunter-Reay, who was the lead Andretti car.

After obtaining the crown of IndyCar's youngest ever winner two weeks ago at the Circuit of the Americas, Colton Herta was sixth, beating his former Indy Lights rival Patricio O'Ward, who was seventh.

Takuma Sato had a violent spin during the session but managed to set the eighth fastest time ahead of Alexander Rossi and Simon Pagenaud who rounded out the top ten.