Paul Tracy was fastest in the delayed and shortened morning practice session in Toronto -- but was one of many drivers to spin on the slippery track.
Although conditions had eased from the storm and downpour that caused IndyCar Series practice to begin nearly an hour and a half behind schedule, the circuit remained very treacherous. This was immediately proved when Dario Franchitti did a 360-degree spin out of the final corner on his first lap with his Target Ganassi Dallara-Honda, and then Andretti Green's Tony Kanaan backed heavily into the wall on the entry to the corner.
The incidents continued incessantly after Kanaan's wreckage was cleared up, with the next stoppage caused by A.J. Foyt Racing’s Ryan Hunter-Reay stalling at Turn 8 and Marco Andretti emulating teammate Kanaan's incident in less damaging fashion.
Vision's Ed Carpenter then became the third and final man to hit the Turn 11 wall, with pace-setter Tracy causing the final caution when he spun and stalled on the exit of Turn 3. Having been restarted by the safety crew, the local hero then spun again at Turn 5 while returning to the pits.
With the session reduced from 60 to 35 minutes in the hope of bringing the day back on schedule, there was little opportunity for clear running between the constant yellows, and many drivers gave up without completing an uninterrupted flying lap.
The top four was filled by KV and AGR cars, with Danica Patrick second to Tracy, whose teammate Mario Moraes was third ahead of Patrick's stablemate Hideki Mutoh.
EJ Viso completed the top five for HVM.
The weather is expected to remain wet for qualifying this afternoon, but forecasts predict dry conditions for tomorrow's race.