Toronto IndyCar: Sebastien Bourdais fastest in first practice

Despite running directly after the Indy Lights field had laid some rubber on the Canadian street circuit, grip was still at a premium for the whole field.

Bourdais managed his Dallara-Chevrolet best to set a quickest time of 1m02.9290s.

The Frenchman set the early pace with a 1m03.5326s and as the times tumbled throughout the 45-minute session, he held the top spot 0.0448s ahead of Scott Dixon in second.

Former Formula 1 pair Juan Pablo Montoya and Max Chilton were visibly uncertain of the grip levels and were edgy on accelerating through the esses - they couldn't better 13th and 22nd respectively.

A number of others also struggled for grip, with first Iowa race winner Josef Newgarden suffering a kick of oversteer in Turn 1 after Conor Daly locked up into the corner, before championship leader Simon Pagenaud and Penske team-mate Montoya both struggled in the Turn 3 right-hander at the end of the back straight. Pagenaud still ended up third fastest.

After a difficult weekend at Iowa's short oval, Toronto's street circuit layout helped the Honda powered cars to be more competitive, with Takuma Sato the best of them in fourth, 0.2635s off Bourdais' pace.

Luca Filippi returned to the Dale Coyne Racing fold for the first time since Barber Motorsports Park in April and finished in 18th.

He is back in the car he vacated in favour of Gabby Chaves earlier in the year, as team-mate to Conor Daly.

PRACTICE ONE TIMES