Team Penske driver Will Power on top in IndyCar practice in Alabama

Power, a two-time winner at the course, planted a 1m07.0198s to go top, setting the quickest time of the weekend so far.

A handful of drivers including Sebastien Bourdais and Carlos Munoz traded the quickest times, with Scott Dixon seeming to trouble Power's time the most.

The Chip Ganassi driver was the first to top the times, and had set a 1m07.1173s to go top, 30 minutes into the 45-minute session.

Minutes later, Power went 0.0975s quicker to set the fastest time.

The sweeping left-hander of Turn 5 caught a number of drivers out - first Max Chilton losing the rear and prompting a red flag just five minutes in.

Takuma Sato and Helio Castroneves then both locked up and ended up on the grass on their hot laps, but both kept the cars going to get back to the pits.

Just four minutes from the end, second practice pacesetter Sato went off again, spearing into the gravel trap and causing the session's second red flag.

The Hondas continued to show competitive pace, led by James Hinchcliffe in third 0.1127s down on Power, and Carlos Munoz in fourth.

Indeed four Hondas finished in the top 10, with the top 14 were all covered by half a second.

PRACTICE THREE RESULT