Hunter-Reay posts quickest practice lap in T.O.

TORONTO — Ryan Hunter-Reay is the car to beat after the first practice at the Honda Indy Toronto.

The defending champion posted a lap of one minute 0.6082 seconds on the 1.75-mile track at Exhibition Place.

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Josef Newgarden was second with a lap of 1:00.6851 followed by Ryan Briscoe at 1:00.6890 ahead of afternoon qualifying for the first race Saturday of the weekend doubleheader.

James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., was 11th in 1:00.9556 while Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que., finished 14th in 1:00.9989.

The session wasn’t without incident.

Will Power ran into the tires, Dario Franchitti popped his front right tire after brushing the wall and Helio Castroneves damaged his front wing after bumping into his Penske teammate Power.