“It was a good day considering we started off with pretty bad balance in the KV Racing Technology Aussie Vineyards–Team Australia car," Power said, "We were able to come back at the end of the day with very nice balance, very neutral. The KVRT team has just got to work on the little bits now, try and find little bits of speed everywhere, because I want to get up there and try and qualify in that top eleven on Saturday.”
In all, the 20 veterans and eleven rookies combined for the highest number of drivers to practice on the first day since 1999, when 33 drivers completed laps. Among their number were day two rookie pacesetter Alex Lloyd, who ended up 17th fastest, returnees Davey Hamilton and Max Papis, and Sarah Fisher, who made her first appearance running with her own team. While Hamilton did not run as much as some of his rivals, he ended the day happier than Vision Racing team-mates Ed Carpenter and AJ Foyt IV.
“It was a tough opening day, because we definitely didn't find the speed we wanted to," Foyt sighed, "The good thing is it's the first day of many, and we have some time to figure it out. The team has done really well all year long, so we'll figure it out. It was great to see that many cars out on pit-lane today, and it wasn't too bad out there because everyone needs a bit of clean air to work on their qualifying trim. Hopefully, we'll get some good weather all week so we can get a little bit better.”
Having met with US presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton, series veteran Fisher wound up 32nd, ahead only of Milka Duno, but was satisfied with her debut as an owner-driver.
“Today was more of a shakedown than anything else," she explained, "We didn't get on track as early as we would have liked, but it's a start. For me, I haven't used the paddle shifters, so that is something I'm going to have to get used to, what they mean, what it wants, what it doesn't want. But it was a good start, and we'll go from there tomorrow.”
All have three more days of practice before PEAK Motor Oil Pole Qualifying on Saturday.
![Marco Andretti - Andretti Green Racing [pic credit: IRL/Haines]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/436476.jpg)
