Defending champion schedule keeping Pagenaud busy at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Simon Pagenaud was eager to start driving Thursday.

After spending most of this week in Indianapolis filling media requests and doing sponsorship appearances, the defending champion of the Grand Prix of Indianapolis can finally focus on racing with Team Penske.

Pagenaud had the sixth-fastest lap in Thursday's practice, completing the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course in 1 minute, 10.9527 seconds.

Chevrolet dominated the practice charts, taking the top six spots.

Target Chip Ganassi driver Scott Dixon led the field with a 1:10.6971. Penske teammates Will Power and Juan Pablo Montoya were second and third at 1:10.8118 and 1:10.856. Sebastien Bourdais of KVSH Racing was fourth at 1:10.8839 and three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves was fifth at 1:10.929.