IndyCar: Ryan Hunter-Reay and Honda on top at Sonoma

Ryan Hunter-Reay needs two wins and a couple miracles to have any chance at winning the 2014 Verizon IndyCar title and he got off to a good start Saturday morning.

The 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 IndyCar champion posted the fastest lap of 1:17.715 in his Andretti Autosport Dallara-Honda during the opening practice session for Sunday's Go Pro Grand Prix of Sonoma. RHR only made eight laps in the 45-minute session and turned his quickest on the fourth time around the 2.385-mile road course.

• VIDEO: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma preview with Ryan Hunter-Reay

Scott Dixon, in the Chip Ganassi Racing's Dallara-Chevrolet, was the only other driver to crack the 1:18 barrier with a lap of 1:17.899. His teammate Tony Kanaan was third best at 1:18.189 in the other Target car in a session uninterrupted by any caution flags, despite several trips through the dirt.

Helio Castroneves, who trails Team Penske teammate and championship leader Will Power by 39 points with only two races remaining, turned in the fourth fastest lap of 1:18.273. Power, a three-time winner this season along with RHR, and a three-time winner here at Sonoma, was fifth fastest at 1:18.400 in the Verizon Dallara/Chevrolet.

Simon Pagenaud, third in the championship and needing to beat Power and Castroneves this weekend if he's to stay in the title hunt heading to Fontana next week, had a long excursion off course. Team manager Rob Edwards explained the sandy trip as being caused by "a braking issue."

Second practice starts at 1.15 p.m. PT with qualifying commencing at 4.35 p.m. local time.