After two days of testing on the Sebring’s 1.8-mile, 10-turn short course, drivers came out of this experience with high praise for the new DW12, most of them having their first experience with the new Dallara chassis.
Were present, but not at the same time, Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power for the Team Penske (Chevrolet), Marco Andretti for Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet), JR Hildebrand for Panther Racing (Chevrolet) and both Tony Kanaan and EJ Viso for KV Racing (Chevrolet).
Also on hand for Honda, Ganassi Racing with Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal, Sam Schmidt Motorsports with Simon Pagenaud and the Lotus factory team with Simona de Silvestro all turning laps.
Lap times fell in the 53-second range, with the Ganassi team reported to be near a best of 53.0 and the Penske team closer to a 53.5 but most drivers reckoned the Dallara DW12, which has only just begun its chassis development, to be about one second behind the Dallara IR07 at this stage in similar conditions.
For Rahal, the initial thing that stood out was how good the brakes are—by far the best braking system he’s had on an Indy car. He said that it took him a few laps to get used to.
He was also pleased by the fact that, in the mid-speed corners and up, the car also has a ton of downforce.
"We’re close to the quickest I’ve ever gone in the old car already, and we haven’t done much running, so that says a lot about how much is left to come, I think.” concluded the young Ganassi driver.
Were present, but not at the same time, Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power for the Team Penske (Chevrolet), Marco Andretti for Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet), JR Hildebrand for Panther Racing (Chevrolet) and both Tony Kanaan and EJ Viso for KV Racing (Chevrolet).
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| Helio Castroneves, Team Penske. (Photo: LAT / IndyCar) |
Also on hand for Honda, Ganassi Racing with Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal, Sam Schmidt Motorsports with Simon Pagenaud and the Lotus factory team with Simona de Silvestro all turning laps.
Lap times fell in the 53-second range, with the Ganassi team reported to be near a best of 53.0 and the Penske team closer to a 53.5 but most drivers reckoned the Dallara DW12, which has only just begun its chassis development, to be about one second behind the Dallara IR07 at this stage in similar conditions.
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| Simona de Silvestro, HMV Lotus Racing. (Photo: LAT / IndyCar) |
For Rahal, the initial thing that stood out was how good the brakes are—by far the best braking system he’s had on an Indy car. He said that it took him a few laps to get used to.
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| Graham Rahal, Chip Ganassi Racing. (Photo: LAT / IndyCar) |
He was also pleased by the fact that, in the mid-speed corners and up, the car also has a ton of downforce.
"We’re close to the quickest I’ve ever gone in the old car already, and we haven’t done much running, so that says a lot about how much is left to come, I think.” concluded the young Ganassi driver.