内容摘要：INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Helio Castroneves felt an immediate difference — a subtle but noticeable uptick in speed — the first time he utilized the boost of horsepower offered by

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Helio Castroneves felt an immediate difference — a subtle but noticeable uptick in speed — the first time he utilized the boost of horsepower offered by

“When you’ve won four out of six, it’s been a great start. I’ve been enjoying the success on track but, for me, what’s been very satisfying is all the work we’ve done behind the scenes to achieve that,” he said. “It’s quite a different feeling when you win a race because you feel like you’ve just gotten by or had good circumstances. But to now be winning because we have an incredibly quick car and I feel like I’m driving well, that’s very satisfying.”Piastri and McLaren had the pace again Friday to be fastest in both practice sessions, but only by narrow margins from teammate and title rival Lando Norris.

In the first session, Piastri was fastest by .0032 of a second ahead of Norris. Carlos Sainz Jr. was third fastest for Williams, .020 off Norris’ time. Defending champion Max Verstappen was only seventh fastest for Red Bull.Piastri and McLaren stretched their advantage over other teams in the second session as he led by .025 from Norris, but Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was .276 back in third.Both sessions had red flags. The first was stopped when Gabriel Bortoleto slid off track and tapped the barrier, leaving his Sauber stuck in the gravel, while the second was interrupted for Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls spinning off into a barrier.

Alpine isn’t challenging the top teams on pace but it’s in pole position for drama.The Renault-owned team was expected for months to drop Australian driver Jack Doohan, a rookie, for the fast but inconsistent reserve Franco Colapinto.

At the Miami Grand Prix, team principal Oliver Oakes dismissed that claim, but two days after the Miami race Oakes suddenly resigned. A day later, Alpine dropped Doohan — whose best race result was 13th — after the Miami GP and promoted Colapinto.

The Argentine driver, a mid-season replacement at Williams in 2024, is happy to be back in F1 but“It’s just been incredible being out there with my teammates, being able to just fully be myself, not hesitate on any type of cut and just cut it loose,” Crosby said. “It’s the best feeling on the planet. I’m having so much fun out here, just being 100% and no hesitation.”

Crosby’s loss wasn’t the only one for the defensive line.Tackle Christian Wilkins, signed last offseason to a four-year, $110 million contract, broke his foot in Week 5 and is still

End Malcolm Koonce, who missed all of the season because of a torn ACL, is closer to a full return, but still is not practicing. Koonce, whoin March, said he expects to return soon.