Aside from installation laps, in the first 10 minutes, the action was provided by rookies, as they were granted an extra set of primary tyres for this session.
Andretti Autosport’s newcomer Devlin DeFrancesco was the first to break the 62-second barrier around the 1.8-mile course, clocking a 61.8256s lap, an average of 104.811mph.
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His former Indy Lights team-mate Kyle Kirkwood got very close in the AJ Foyt Racing-Chevrolet, and eventually surpassed him, but by then three-time St. Pete winner Helio Castroneves had vaulted the Meyer Shank Racing-Honda to the top with a 61.6086s.
That time held strong until Andretti Autosport’s veterans hit the track, at which point the team’s star signing Grosjean delivered a 61.0525s, with defending St. Pete winner Colton Herta 0.3241s back.
Top Chevrolet performer in third was Team Penske’s series sophomore Scott McLaughlin, until team-mate and nine-time St. Pete polesitter Will Power…
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