2007 Indy Racing League Testing Thread......

[mlittle]

With about 6-7 weeks before the new year, it is once again time to start up a new testing thread, and there's a bit of a twist to the schedule.....

Series officials announced today that the pre-season testing schedule will include two places familiar to racefans in South Florida.......Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the "World Center of Racing", Daytona International Speedway; both facilities will host full-field test sessions(including night oval sessions at Homestead....... )

Here are some quotes from those at the announcement..........

Robin Braig, President--Daytona International Speedway:

We are very excited to be able to host preseason testing for the IndyCar Series here at Daytona. Bringing another motorsports sanctioning body to Daytona further solidifies us as the 'World Center of Racing'. We look forward to welcoming the stars and fans of the IndyCar Series.

John Lewis, Indy Racing League VP-Development:

Expanding our preseason testing schedule to include Daytona International Speedway (will be) good for teams and fans alike. The feedback coming out of the (recent) test from our drivers and teams, Firestone, Honda and Ethanol was very positive and supportive of the IndyCar Series pursuing Daytona as a testing venue. [on Homestead......]Enhancing the Homestead-Miami experience to include testing under the lights makes perfect sense as we become the only open-wheel series to open its' season in prime time. The IndyCar Series was the first to race at night in Texas, and now we are advancing that to include the season opener.

Curtis Gray, President, Homestead-Miami Speedway:

We look forward to the IndyCar Series test being held at night and giving race fans a sneak peek of what they can expect at the season opener when they can witness the spectacle of watching these cars race under the lights at speeds over 200 miles per hour. South Florida is noted for its' fast-paced nightlife, so it was only fitting for the speedway to host this event and the season opener under the lights.

2007 Pre-Season Testing Schedule..............

31 January 2007--Daytona, 10 am-noon & 1-5 pm
1 February 2007--Daytona, 10 am-noon & 1-5 pm
20 February 2007--Homestead, 10 am-noon & 1-5 pm(road-course)
22 February 2007--Homestead, 4-10 pm(oval course)
23 February 2007--Homestead, 4-10 pm(oval course)

[mlittle]

Although the first major open test for the IndyCar Series isn't until next month, several teams undertook tire and engine tests on both coasts Wednesday......

~~Homestead-Miami Speedway saw several teams visit for a series-sanctioned Firestone tire test; teams and drivers included Team Penske w/Helio Castroneves, Vision Racing w/Tomas Scheckter and Andretti-Green Racing w/Danica Patrick and Jonathan Klein(IPS)
~~on the West Coast, it was a one-team affair, as Target/Ganassi Racing and drivers Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon tested at California Speedway in a series-sanctioned Honda engine test

[Julian Mayo]

Although the first major open test for the IndyCar Series isn't until next month, several teams undertook tire and engine tests on both coasts Wednesday......

~~Homestead-Miami Speedway saw several teams visit for a series-sanctioned Firestone tire test; teams and drivers included Team Penske w/Helio Castroneves, Vision Racing w/Tomas Scheckter and Andretti-Green Racing w/Danica Patrick and Jonathan Klein(IPS)
~~on the West Coast, it was a one-team affair, as Target/Ganassi Racing and drivers Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon tested at California Speedway in a series-sanctioned Honda engine test

Rumour in Un Zud is that Scotty Dixon is looking at TinTops to make some real money

[mlittle]

Although the first major open test for the IndyCar Series isn't until next month, several teams undertook tire and engine tests on both coasts Wednesday......

~~Homestead-Miami Speedway saw several teams visit for a series-sanctioned Firestone tire test; teams and drivers included Team Penske w/Helio Castroneves, Vision Racing w/Tomas Scheckter and Andretti-Green Racing w/Danica Patrick and Jonathan Klein(IPS)
~~on the West Coast, it was a one-team affair, as Target/Ganassi Racing and drivers Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon tested at California Speedway in a series-sanctioned Honda engine test

Rumour in Un Zud is that Scotty Dixon is looking at TinTops to make some real money

Unless Ganassi's jumped the proverbial shark and decided to field an additional Nextel Cup car for Dixon, I wouldn't put much stock in any "Dixon to NASCAR" rumors.....then again, who'd thought Montoya would jump to NASCAR?

[mlittle]

~~note......all drivers listed set their fastest times in the second, afternoon session

1} Tony Kanaan, Andretti-Green Racing...............1:12.239 sec/135.549 mph(50 laps)
2} Helio Castroneves, Team Penske.....................1:12.365 sec/135.313 mph(67 laps)
3} Dan Wheldon, Target/Ganassi Racing...............1:12.412 sec/135.226 mph(73 laps)
4} Dario Franchitti, Andretti-Green Racing.............1:12.461 sec/135.134 mph(58 laps)
5} Sam Hornish, Jr., Team Penske........................1:12.503 sec/135.056 mph(81 laps)
6} Scott Dixon, Target/Ganassi Racing..................1:12.837 sec/134.438 mph(48 laps)
7} Vitor Meira, Aguri-Panther Racing.....................1:12.994 sec/134.149 mph(83 laps)
8} Scott Sharp, Rahal-Letterman Racing................1:13.558 sec/133.118 mph(61 laps)
9} Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing............1:13.621 sec/133.006 mph(55 laps)
10} Marco Andretti, Andretti-Green Racing.............1:13.759 sec/132.756 mph(52 laps)
11} Jeff Simmons, Rahal-Letterman Racing............1:13.962 sec/132.393 mph(47 laps)
12} Darren Manning, A.J. Foyt Racing....................1:14.264 sec/131.854 mph(56 laps)
13} Tomas Scheckter, Vision Racing......................1:14.279 sec/131.827 mph(40 laps)
14} Danica Patrick, Andretti-Green Racing..............1:14.499 sec/131.439 mph(57 laps)
15} Buddy Rice, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing..............1:14.569 sec/131.314 mph(36 laps)
16} Ed Carpenter, Vision Racing.............................1:15.595 sec/129.532 mph(77 laps)
17} A.J. Foyt, IV, Vision Racing..............................1:16.510 sec/127.984 mph(49 laps)

[mlittle]

...results for session #3 can be found here; results for session #4 can be found here and the combined results for the entire 2-day test can be found here.

And with that, the sun has set on the IRL IndyCar Series' first-ever test at the historic "World Center of Racing", Daytona International Speedway. Next stop on the road to the 2007 season.......a 3-day test at Homestead-Miami Speedway in mid-February

[mlittle]

1} Dan Wheldon, Target/Ganassi Racing..............24.882 sec/214.858 mph
2} Marco Andretti, Andretti-Green Racing.............25.002 sec/213.823 mph
3} Scott Dixon, Target/Ganassi Racing.................25.017 sec/213.693 mph
4} Helio Castroneves, Team Penske....................25.035 sec/213.543 mph
5} Dario Franchitti, Andretti-Green Racing.............25.039 sec/213.504 mph
6} Sam Hornish, Jr., Team Penske.......................25.114 sec/212.867 mph
7} Tony Kanaan, Andretti-Green Racing...............25.178 sec/212.332 mph
8} Vitor Meira, Aguri-Panther Racing....................25.183 sec/212.283 mph
9} Buddy Rice, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.............25.197 sec/212.165 mph
10} Danica Patrick, Andretti-Green Racing............25.221 sec/211.963 mph
11} Ed Carpenter, Vision Racing..........................25.233 sec/211.868 mph
12} Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing..........25.253 sec/211.697 mph
13} Tomas Scheckter, Vision Racing.....................25.313 sec/211.197 mph
14} Jeff Simmons, Rahal-Letterman Racing...........25.343 sec/210.948 mph
15} Sarah Fisher, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing..........25.352 sec/210.873 mph
16} Scott Sharp, Rahal-Letterman Racing..............25.362 sec/210.793 mph
17} A.J. Foyt, IV, Vision Racing.............................25.482 sec/209.979 mph
18} Marty Roth, Roth Racing.................................25.750 sec/207.614 mph
19} Darren Manning, A.J. Foyt Racing....................25.757 sec/207.558 mph


Lap totals for the session..............
Wheldon--77
Andretti--102
Dixon--121
Castroneves--117
Franchitti--88
Hornish, Jr.--148
Kanaan--40
Meira--145
Rice--70
Patrick--64
Carpenter--90
Matsuura--113
Scheckter--84
Simmons--143
Fisher--77
Sharp--105
Foyt, IV--83
Roth--83
Manning--51
(total no. of laps run in the session.............1823 laps)

[mlittle]

note--lap totals reflect both sessions 1 & 2

1} Dan Wheldon, Target/Ganassi Racing.................24.941 sec/214.350mph
2} Sam Hornish, Jr., Team Penske.........................24.961 sec/214.178 mph
3} Tony Kanaan, Andretti-Green Racing.................24.967 sec/214.119 mph
4} Marco Andretti, Andretti-Green Racing................24.988 sec/213.944 mph
5} Helio Castroneves, Team Penske.......................24.997 sec/213.869 mph
6} Scott Dixon, Target/Ganassi Racing....................25.053 sec/213.386 mph
7} Dario Franchitti, Andrett-Green Racing................25.075 sec/213.197 mph
8} Buddy Rice, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing................25.102 sec/212.970 mph
9} Vitor Meira, Aguri-Panther Racing.......................25.132 sec/212.719 mph
10} Tomas Scheckter, Vision Racing.......................25.132 sec/212.718 mph*
11} Scott Sharp, Rahal-Letterman Racing................25.176 sec/212.348 mph
12} Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing............25.191 sec/212.219 mph
13} Danica Patrick, Andretti-Green Racing...............25.194 sec/212.195 mph
14} Jeff Simmons, Rahal-Letterman Racing..............25.232 sec/211.875 mph
15} Ed Carpenter, Vision Racing.............................25.237 sec/211.826 mph
16} Sarah Fisher, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.............25.255 sec/211.685 mph
17} Darren Manning, A.J. Foyt Racing......................25.303 sec/211.282 mph
18} A.J. Foyt, IV, Vision Racing...............................25.378 sec/210.673 mph
19} Marty Roth, Roth Racing...................................25.464 sec/209.945 mph
*--times are rounded to the 1/1000th's; Meira's time was 2 ten-thousandths' faster than Scheckter's, hence the miniscule difference btwn. time and speed

Wheldon=124
Hornish, Jr.=175
Kanaan=182
Andretti=134
Castroneves=179
Dixon=189
Franchitti=67
Rice=114
Meira=152
Scheckter=167
Sharp=146
Matsuura=118
Patrick=148
Simmons=185
Carpenter=173
Fisher=146
Manning=121
Foyt IV=179
Roth=153

[mlittle]

With the 2007 season came one change to the rules concerning testing in regards to IndyCar Series teams; those with Indy Pro Series programs were given "bonus" test days in which an IndyCar Series driver and an Indy Pro Series driver w/the team can test at the same track on the same day.........which is exactly what Target/Ganassi Racing did back on May 3 as drivers Scott Dixon and Chris Festa both got track time on the legendary Milwaukee Mile. For Festa, who got to test at a Firestone tire test last year, it was a fun experience...........

Chris Festa, Target/Ganassi Racing(IPS):

It's great; it's a lot of fun. I'm just trying to work up to it little by little and not get greedy. Thus far I'm having fun. Everybody at Target (Chip) Ganassi Racing is great. It's a great organization; great team. Great drivers have driven for them before. There's so much knowledge there for me to learn from and getting into an Indy Car for the first time with them is a great opportunity for me; I can really learn a lot from them.

Overseeing both Festa, one of the Indy Pro Series' rising stars, and 2003 IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was TGR's managing director, Mike Hull, who had great things to say about the Atlanta, Ga. native Festa.......

Mike Hull, Managing Director, Target/Ganassi Racing:

One of the biggest benefits to Target Chip Ganassi Racing has been Chris Festa. I know that we're granted some testing time because we have an Indy Pro Series team, but what it actually does is give us a first-person, first-hand opportunity to look at young drivers--the first of which in that program is Chris Festa. We've been extremely excited about him (and) his ability. he's a 21-year old future rising star for Indy car racing. He's already proven he can drive an IndyCar and it's great to have young American talent in our program.

As for Festa.....he'll return to the track in a few weeks for practice and qualifying leading up to the IPS American Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway set for May 25th(Carb Day).

[mlittle]

Although teams and drivers in the IndyCar Series have this weekend off before heading to Iowa, most everyone spent Wednesday testing at Mid-Ohio, which hosts the IndyCar Series in mid-July...........here are the combined practice times from the day's testing..........

1st} Dario Franchitti, Andretti-Green Racing...........................1:07.667 sec/120.130 mph
2nd} Helio Castroneves, Team Penske..................................1:07.767 sec/119.952 mph
3rd} Marco Andretti, Andretti-Green Racing............................1:07.972 sec/119.591 sec
4th} Buddy Rice, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing............................1:08.076 sec/119.407 mph
5th} Scott Dixon, Target/Ganassi Racing................................1:08.086 sec/119.391 mph
6th} Sam Hornish, Jr., Team Penske......................................1:08.374 sec/118.888 mph
7th} Tony Kanaan, Andretti-Green Racing...............................1:08.587 sec/118.518 mph
8th} Danica Patrick, Andretti-Green Racing.............................1:08.790 sec/118.169 mph
9th} Dan Wheldon, Target/Ganassi Racing..............................1:08.894 sec/117.990 mph
10th} Darren Manning, A.J. Foyt Racing..................................1:08.923 sec/117.943 mph
11th} Tomas Scheckter, Vision Racing....................................1:09.013 sec/117.787 mph
12th} Jeff Simmons, Rahal-Letterman Racing..........................1:09.639 sec/116.728 mph
13th} A.J. Foyt, IV, Vision Racing...........................................1:10.368 sec/115.518 mph
14th} Scott Sharp, Rahal-Letterman Racing.............................1:10.693 sec/114.987 mph
15th} Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing.........................1:10.942 sec/114.584 mph
16th} Ed Carpenter, Vision Racing..........................................1:10.969 sec/114.540 mph
17th} Sarah Fisher, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.........................1:12.864 sec/111.561 mph

[mlittle]

IndyCar Series officials, in the runup to this weekend's inaugural running of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway, are going to run a full-field open test from 2:30-6:30 pm(assumptions are for 2 90-min. practice sessions); results of the open test will be posted on this thread.

[mlittle]

Iowa Open Test.......
note........session lasted for 1 hr., 27 min. before thunderstorms came through the area ending the session early

1st} Dan Wheldon, Target/Ganassi Racing..............................17.601 sec/182.857 mph(95 laps)
2nd} Scott Dixon, Target/Ganassi Racing................................17.671 sec/182.129 mph(94 laps)*
3rd} Sam Hornish, Jr., Team Penske.......................................17.671 sec/182.127 mph(64 laps)*
4th} Helio Castroneves, Team Penske.....................................17.687 sec/181.960 mph(91 laps)
5th} Marco Andretti, Andretti-Green Racing..............................17.696 sec/181.869 mph(77 laps)
6th} Dario Franchitti, Andretti-Green Racing.............................17.723 sec/181.594 mph(57 laps)
7th} Buddy Rice, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing..............................17.563 sec/181.254 mph(96 laps)
8th} Tomas Scheckter, Vision Racing.......................................17.766 sec/181.153 mph(103 laps)
9th} Ed Carpenter, Vision Racing.............................................17.767 sec/181.149 mph(71 laps)
10th} Jeff Simmons, Rahal-Letterman Racing............................17.787 sec/180.939 mph(115 laps)
11th} Danica Patrick, Andretti-Green Racing.............................17.798 sec/180.830 mph(80 laps)
12th} Tony Kanaan, Andretti-Green Racing...............................17.823 sec/180.576 mph(28 laps)
13th} Scott Sharp, Rahal-Letterman Racing...............................17.844 sec/180.369 mph(77 laps)
14th} A.J. Foyt, IV, Vision Racing..............................................17.860 sec/180.198 mph(63 laps)
15th} Darren Manning, A.J. Foyt Racing.....................................17.938 sec/179.419 mph(69 laps)
16th} Sarah Fisher, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing............................17.970 sec/179.097 mph(64 laps)
17th} Vitor Meira, Aguri-Panther Racing.....................................17.998 sec/178.821 mph(53 laps)
18th} Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing............................18.155 sec/177.278 mph(50 laps)
19th}(R)Milka Duno, SAMAX Motorsports....................................18.766 sec/171.505 mph(86 laps)

*--IRL timing/scoring records to the 10/10,000th's(for forum purposes the times are rounded to the nearest 1/1,000th's
Dixon's time............17.6710 sec
Hornish's time..........17.6712 sec

[mlittle]

This week was a pretty busy week testing-wise for IRL teams, not only in the IndyCar Series but also in the Indy Pro Series.......here is a short list of who tested where................................

14-15 August, Aguri-Panther Racing tested at Chicagoland; their Indy Pro Series driver, Hideki Mutoh, passed his rookie test on Tuesday; both he and IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira split testing duties on Wednesday

16 August, Target/Ganassi Racing tested at Sebring on the "short course" with IndyCar driver Scott Dixon and Indy Pro drivers Chris Festa and Alex Lloyd

17-18 August...........several teams from both series' tested at Infineon Raceway(since it was not an open test, no times were available......... ); participating were:
--(ICS)Andretti-Green Racing: Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick
--(ICS)Vision Racing: Tomas Scheckter, A.J. Foyt, IV and Ed Carpenter
--(ICS)Rahal-Letterman Racing: Scott Sharp and Ryan Hunter-Reay
--(IPS)Andretti-Green Racing: Jaime Camara
--(IPS)AFS Racing: Wade Cunningham
--(IPS)RLR-Andersen Racing: Andrew Prendeville
--(IPS)Sam Schmidt Motorsports: Alex Lloyd

[mlittle]

IRL officials announced this week that several teams will be returning to Iowa Speedway for a 2-day test on October 3-4, 2007 in an effort to tweak the current aero package the series used this year(and IMO possibly avoid what happened this year when everyone hugged the white line and you could go 100% throttle....which shouldn't occur on a short-track)......

[mlittle]

IRL officials announced this week that several teams will be returning to Iowa Speedway for a 2-day test on October 3-4, 2007 in an effort to tweak the current aero package the series used this year(and IMO possibly avoid what happened this year when everyone hugged the white line and you could go 100% throttle....which shouldn't occur on a short-track)......

Clarifying the above..........three teams will be testing at Iowa Speedway(Andretti-Green Racing, Team Penske and Target/Ganassi Racing)........in addition, IRL officials confirmed that there will be a full-field open test at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama in mid-October(11-12 October 2007)