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AJ Allmendinger spent the first few laps Saturday getting acclimated to his new car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

He spent the next hour finding speed. The IndyCar rookie can't wait to see what's next.

For a driver who has competed around the world in various racing series, the opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice seemed more like a dream than reality. It took roughly an hour for Allmendinger to pass all three phases of the rookie orientation program, topping out with a fast lap of 219.239 mph on a breezy, unseasonably chilly day.

The weather conditions led to slower speeds and fewer laps than expected on the 2.5-mile oval.

But all that mattered to Allmendinger was that he was getting a second chance.