Ryan Norman heads a super-close Indy Lights field covered by less than one-second in practice

By Steve Wittich

Ryan Norman, who also set the quickest lap the last time that the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series was on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the Chris Griffis Memorial Test, turned a lap of 76.259 seconds.

BN Racing Rookie David Malukas was only five-hundredths behind Norman and was followed in the top five by Rinus van Kalmthout (VeeKay) (Juncos Racing), Zachary Claman (Belardi Auto Racing) and Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport).

The 45-minute session was interrupted by a single red flag, which came out with 31-minutes remaining to retrieve rookie Lucas Kohl from the gravel in Turn 5.

All nine drivers are within nine-tenths of Norman’s quick lap.

The nine drivers turned a total of 169 laps.

The No. 48 of Ryan Norman with new sponsor Three Chord on track during Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires practice on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)

The top rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires was afforded a pair of 50-minute practice sessions before the first official practice. The first session only had 20 laps turned as the track was too wet for Cooper Tire slicks and too dry for Cooper Tire wets. Malukas turned a lap at 79.934 seconds, the quickest lap of the second test session on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course.

Indy Lights Grand Prix of Indianapolis Presented By Cooper Tires Practice #1 Results

Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires drivers will have two sessions on Friday. Qualifying at 10:10 am and their first race at 1:30 pm.