Friday eve practice ends, Carpenter fastest.
WADE CUNNINGHAM (No. 14 ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt Racing): I was exploring different lines on the track and I hadn't been that aggressive changing lanes. Just judged it on the seams of the track and got caught out. (Was there're another car involved): "There was someone leaving pit lane, and I thought for a while I was going to get them, but luckily they got on the gas and got out of my way.
09/14/12 Ed Carpenter posted the fastest lap in the evening at ACS, a full tenth of a second faster than second place Helio Castroneves. Scott Dixon was only a few thousands slower, followed by Tony Kanaan, Josef Newgarden, Ryan Briscoe, and JR Hildebrand.
The two contenders for the title took it easy, posting only 21st (Hunter-Reay) and 23rd (Powers) positions.
The session was interrupted by a Wade Cunningham spin. Cunningham lightly nosed in to the wall at the exit of turn 2, and was uninjured.
EJ Viso had tweeted before practice that he was contemplating pulling out of the contest due to his discomfort with the lack of downforce. EJ did run a few laps, and was 22nd fastest, some 8 mph slower than Carpenter.
Drivers all considered this evening session to be crucial for race performance, as the hot daytime temps drastically changed the nature of the track during the day. — Tim Wohlford, reporting from Fontana!!
Results
