Dixon fastest in delayed practice

Practice had been scheduled to commence at 10am local time, but a huge hailstorm and subsequent rain meant a morning of waiting for the teams. Initial attempts to dry the track were then frustrated by further showers.

When the rain finally stopped, swift efforts by the track workers allowed a rescheduled one hour, 45 minute session to get underway at 2.30pm.

Dixon soon established himself at the head of the order for Ganassi and remained there for the duration, ahead of Penske's Ryan Briscoe.

Panther driver Dan Wheldon missed the early part of the session with a fuel cell issue, but moved up to third when he took to the track, ahead of KV's Mario Moraes and championship leader Will Power (Penske).

Behind Dario Franchitti (Ganassi) Vitor Meira produced the Foyt team's best form of 2010 so far by taking seventh - having held a top four spot for a long while.

The session was interrupted twice, first for a brief track inspection, and then when rookie Mario Romancini spun his Conquest machine into the Turn 4 wall.

The field now has a one-hour break before qualifying for tomorrow's race.