INDIANAPOLIS — Roger Penske's team got off to a fast start on a slow day at Indianapolis. Less than 24 hours after working feverishly to convert three cars from road-course setups to oval setups, the winningest owner in Indianapolis 500 swept the top three spots on the first day of practice Sunday. Australia's Will Power finished with a fast lap of 223.057 mph (358.975 kph), Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya was second at 222.502 (358.082) and Brazil's Helio Castroneves was third at 222.373 (357.875). Only three other drivers topped 222 mph (357 kph). And Penske's team made it look easy. Just two dozen drivers turned laps on the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) oval, most finishing with fewer than 40 total laps and some in backup cars. Power's practice time more than 5 mph slower than last year's four-lap pole-winning average, and only a smattering of fans came out for opening day, which years ago was considered an unofficial holiday in town. None of it was a surprise to the insiders. Penske's team wasn't the only one under the microscope. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch's team not only had to make changes to Andretti Autosport's No. 26 Honda, it had to repair the car that in a crash during Saturday's inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Michael Andretti's team didn't even push Busch's car out of the garage until more than an hour after practice began. But the delay didn't slow down Busch, who is attempting to become the fourth driver to attempt “the double” — 1,100 miles of racing at Indianapolis and Charlotte on the same day. Both races will be held May 25. Busch ran only 29 laps Sunday and was right in the middle of the pack, No. 12, after going 220.352. “It was a nice rookie day to go play in traffic,” Busch said. “It's exciting because every corner is different and you have to remember where each of those moments were from the lap before. Things are moving quickly at 220 (354) and that's with just a few cars“. Full-time team owner and part-time driver Ed Carpenter was back in the cockpit for the first time in seven months Sunday. Last year's Indy pole winner finished eighth on the speed chart with a lap of 221.772 (356.907). Long Beach winner Mike Conway is driving exclusively on the road and street courses for Carpenter's team this year, while Carpenter is driving the ovals. The 500 is the first race this season to be held on an oval. — AP
