Sebastian Saavedra topped the practice speeds as Firestone Indy Lights teams began preparations for the season-ending Homestead-Miami 100 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Saavedra, driver of the No. 27 Automatic Fire Sprinklers Inc. car for AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing, posted a top lap of 28.5564 seconds, 187.208 mph.
In all, 18 cars turned 1,037 laps in the practice session without incident. Wade Cunningham (28.7510, 185.941) was second fastest in the No. 11 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car.
Pippa Mann (28.7543, 185.920) was third in the No. 16 Panther Racing car. J.R. Hildebrand, who has already clinched the Firestone Firehawk Cup as the series champion, was fourth on the chart with a best lap of 28.7831, 185.743. James Davison (28.8073; 185.578) was fifth.
The IndyCar Series cars did not practice Thursday. The Homestead-Miami 100, a 67-lap race will run at 6 p.m. Friday and will air live on Versus.