Dixon fastest in opening practice
Championship leader Scott Dixon got his Chicagoland weekend off to an ideal start by topping the opening practice session
The Ganassi driver was fastest by 0.1665 seconds - a comparatively vast margin given that until Dixon put in his benchmark lap, the top eight had been covered by less than one tenth of a second.
Early pace-setter Ryan Briscoe ended up second, one place ahead of his Penske teammate - and Dixon's last remaining title rival - Helio Castroneves.
Marco Andretti was the best of the Andretti Green quartet in fourth place after a late jump up the order, followed by Vitor Meira, who beat Dan Wheldon - the man who will replace him at Panther Racing next year - to the final top five spot.
Tony Kanaan (AGR), Ryan Hunter-Reay (Rahal-Letterman), Danica Patrick (AGR) and Hideki Mutoh (AGR) completed the top ten.
The series has attracted one of its biggest fields of the season for the championship finale, with 28 cars participating in practice.
Owner/driver Sarah Fisher has returned for Chicagoland, the race is part of Luczo Dragon Racing's part-time programme with Tomas Scheckter, and AJ Foyt Racing have expanded to a second car for Franck Perera this weekend. The Frenchman was 25th fastest as he readjusted to the IndyCar Series five months after losing his Conquest drive.
The one hour and 45 minute session passed without incident, with the only yellows occurring for track inspections.
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Scott Dixon Ganassi 25.0833 2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 25.2498 + 0.1665 3. Helio Castroneves Penske 25.2552 + 0.1719 4. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 25.2586 + 0.1753 5. Vitor Meira Panther 25.2597 + 0.1764 6. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 25.2688 + 0.1855 7. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 25.2790 + 0.1957 8. Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman 25.3252 + 0.2419 9. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 25.3266 + 0.2433 10. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 25.3352 + 0.2519 11. Tomas Scheckter Luczo Dragon 25.3553 + 0.2720 12. Will Power KV 25.3853 + 0.3020 13. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan 25.3904 + 0.3071 14. Oriol Servia KV 25.4025 + 0.3192 15. Darren Manning Foyt 25.4151 + 0.3318 16. Ed Carpenter Vision 25.4245 + 0.3412 17. AJ Foyt IV Vision 25.4533 + 0.3700 18. Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher 25.4650 + 0.3817 19. Marty Roth Roth 25.4665 + 0.3832 20. Jaime Camara Conquest 25.4938 + 0.4105 21. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 25.5058 + 0.4225 22. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 25.5060 + 0.4227 23. EJ Viso HVM 25.5066 + 0.4233 24. Alex Tagliani Conquest 25.5180 + 0.4347 25. Franck Perera Foyt 25.5467 + 0.4634 26. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 25.5611 + 0.4778 27. Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold 25.5858 + 0.5025 28. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne 25.6685 + 0.5852
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