Transfer window Number 1 has been nailed shut!

I must first say well done to all of you for the level of restraint that you have all shown during the first transfer window. I expected a much more corpulent inbox considering the fact that we have moved from an oval to a street circiut. A fact that should provide the road racers and Champ Car refugees with a much needed boost.

Is the first day's practice any sort of diving rod for Saturday qualifying? It is hard to say for certain. What we do know is that Helio Castroneves was on the pace almost immediately he left pit road and clocked the quickest time of the second session in almost half the laps of Tony Kanaan in second place. The time that really leaps out you before poking you in the eye with a tiny promotional samurai sword, is that of AGR's Hideki Mutoh. He topped the charts for much of the session despite an off that restricted him to just 10 laps. He will be well worth watching in final qualifying tomorrow, he may even make the 'Fast 6'.

Will Power shrugged off a problematic opening session to log an impressive fourth best time and Atlantic's graduate Franck Perera continues his eye-catching start to the season with 5th on the time sheets.

It all points towards and intriguing afternoon of qualifying on Saturday,

The second session times were as follows:

1 – Helio Castroneves, 1:03.3068
2 – Tony Kanaan, 1:03.3680
3 – ® Hideki Mutoh, 1:03.4491
4 – Will Power, 1:03.5983
5 – ® Franck Perera, 1:03.6346
6 – Vitor Meira, 1:03.6505
7 – Marco Andretti, 1:03.6576
8 – Scott Dixon, 1:03.7358
9 – Oriol Servia, 1:03.7377
10 – Ryan Hunter-Reay, 1:03.7379
11 – Ryan Briscoe, 1:03.8044
12 – Justin Wilson, 1:03.9599
13 – Darren Manning, 1:03.9905
14 – Bruno Junqueira, 1:04.2090
15 – Dan Wheldon, 1:04.2912
16 – Buddy Rice, 1:04.4419
17 – ® Enrique Bernoldi, 1:04.5261
18 – ® Graham Rahal, 1:04.5618
19 – Danica Patrick, 1:04.7718
20 – Townsend Bell, 1:04.7961
21 – ® Ernesto Viso, 1:05.0462
22 - A.J. Foyt IV, 1:05.3497
23 – Ed Carpenter, 1:05.7426
24 – ® Jay Howard, 1:05.7668
25 – ® Mario Moraes, 1:05.8624
26 – Marty Roth, 1:08.7802