Will Power Paces Final Practice in Barber

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer

Will Power led the way in an eventful opening Saturday practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park.

Power’s top time of 1:07.3430 stood as the quickest circuit in the third practice session for Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, giving Chevrolet the top time in the run. The 2014 IndyCar champion is searching for this third triumph on the Alabama road course, having won back-to-back races at the circuit in 2011 and ’12.

Honda’s Robert Wickens, Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi rounded out the top five. The back half of the top 10 was comprised of the Chevrolet trio of Josef Newgarden, Spencer Pigot and Jordan King, and a duo of Honda drivers in Sebastien Bourdais and James Hinchcliffe.

While the session lasted just 45 minutes, it was far from peaceful. The IndyCar paddock was stalled three times for red flags.

The first stoppage arrived early on when Ed Jones became the latest driver to venture off-course in the treacherous Turn 5. One week after his first podium for Chip Ganassi Racing at Long Beach, Jones slotted in 20th at the end of a difficult practice.

https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/987725273977245696

Additional red flags later flew for King – who contacted the wall at the exit of Turn 2 – and Charlie Kimball, who stalled off course in the final moments to bring the session to an early end.

The IndyCar paddock will return for qualifications at 3:05 p.m. ET (4:05 p.m. ET).

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