Antonio Felix Da Costa topped the timesheets with a 1:11.496 with two other Porsche-powered cars in the top 10.
Drivers used the sessions to push their cars, finding the limits of the Sao Paulo street circuit. Times tumbled towards the end of the session as track conditions came in and the drivers learnt more about the circuit.
While Da Costa set the pace, two-tenths ahead of the rest of the field, the rest of the field was relatively close. Just over a second separated second place and the back of the grid as drivers got used to harsh braking zones and long straights of Sao Paulo.
Despite one-lap pace not being their strength, Da Costa set the fastest lap of the session in his Porsche. His teammate Pascal Wehrlein ended the session fourth.
Maximillian Gunther ended the session in second place, two-tenths off of Da Costa. Despite positive signs on one side of the Maserati garage, Edoardo Mortara finished down in 17th.
Nissan had a mixed session as Norman Nato rounded out the top three while rookie Sacha Fenestraz struggled down in 20th. Customer team McLaren had another strong session, with Jake Hughes seventh fastest while Rene Rast narrowly missed the top 10.
After struggling with the car in first practice, Jake Dennis ended second practice in fifth, four-tenths off of the lead pace. Only one Porsche-powered car ended the session outside of the top 10 as Andre Lotterer ended the session in 14th place in his Andretti.
Dan Ticktum showed his pace once again in the NIO 333, lapping the streets of Sao Paulo in a time good enough for ninth.
Having shown limited one-lap pace across the season so far, Nico Muller wowed by ending the session tenth in his ABT Cupra, the fastest of the Mahindra-powered cars. Home hero Lucas DiGrassi struggled again in his Mahindra, only setting a time good enough for 15th.
The action continues in Brazil with qualifying at 9:40 local time.