Team Penske's Will Power led a Penske one-two-three on the final day of IndyCar testing at Barber Motorsports Park like he did the day before.
Once again the temperature was cold, even so that Thurday's morning session was cancelled outright due to extremely cold temperatures at the Alabama road course.
Furthermore, there was then another delay when reigning champion Dario Franchitti crashed heavily. Although the Ganassi driver was unhurt, barrier repairs were required, halting the session for a full hour.
Once, the testing session resumed, the Penske drivers demonstrated that they were going to be a force to be recognised with this coming season with Power leading the way just over a tenth ahead of his team-mates Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe.
Franchitti's crash left Scott Dixon to do most of Ganassi's running and the double champion took fourth place while Justin Wilson remained with the lead pack, taking fifth after being third on Wednesday. His Dreyer & Reinbold teammate Mike Conway also showed much improved form, conquering the set-up issues that had left him down the order on day one and leaping to seventh.
Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato once again impressed with sixth place for KV Racing, the Japanese had finished 7th on the previous session, but his team-mate EJ Viso lost time with a variety of issues and was only 15th. Potential third driver James Rossiter also continued to test for the squad and was 11th.
Marco Andretti was the best of the Andretti Autosport quartet in eighth, while Indy Lights graduate Mario Romancini took a promising 10th for Conquest.
Another day to forget for Danica Patrick who wiund up 17th, just behind fellow female driver Simona de Silvestro, who was testing for HVM again.
De Ferran Luczo Dragon driver Raphael Matos' day was also cut short by a crash, leaving him 18th ahead of Franchitti and Jay Howard, who took over from Sarah Fisher for the final day.
Wednesday Session
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m10.5052s
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m10.7146s + 0.2094s
3. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 1m10.7397s + 0.2345s
4. Will Power Penske 1m10.7637s + 0.2585s
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m10.8927s + 0.3875s
6. EJ Viso KV 1m10.9186s + 0.4134s
7. Takuma Sato KV 1m11.1138s + 0.6086s
8. Etc....
Thursday Session
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Will Power Penske 1m09.8724s
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m10.0084s + 0.1360s
3. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m10.0459s + 0.1735s
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m10.0594s + 0.1870s
5. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 1m10.0869s + 0.2145s
6. Takuma Sato KV 1m10.2070s + 0.3346s
7. Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold 1m10.2497s + 0.3773s
8. Etc....
photo:IRL
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| Marco Andretti photo: IRL |
Once again the temperature was cold, even so that Thurday's morning session was cancelled outright due to extremely cold temperatures at the Alabama road course.
Furthermore, there was then another delay when reigning champion Dario Franchitti crashed heavily. Although the Ganassi driver was unhurt, barrier repairs were required, halting the session for a full hour.
Once, the testing session resumed, the Penske drivers demonstrated that they were going to be a force to be recognised with this coming season with Power leading the way just over a tenth ahead of his team-mates Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe.
Franchitti's crash left Scott Dixon to do most of Ganassi's running and the double champion took fourth place while Justin Wilson remained with the lead pack, taking fifth after being third on Wednesday. His Dreyer & Reinbold teammate Mike Conway also showed much improved form, conquering the set-up issues that had left him down the order on day one and leaping to seventh.
Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato once again impressed with sixth place for KV Racing, the Japanese had finished 7th on the previous session, but his team-mate EJ Viso lost time with a variety of issues and was only 15th. Potential third driver James Rossiter also continued to test for the squad and was 11th.
Marco Andretti was the best of the Andretti Autosport quartet in eighth, while Indy Lights graduate Mario Romancini took a promising 10th for Conquest.
Another day to forget for Danica Patrick who wiund up 17th, just behind fellow female driver Simona de Silvestro, who was testing for HVM again.
De Ferran Luczo Dragon driver Raphael Matos' day was also cut short by a crash, leaving him 18th ahead of Franchitti and Jay Howard, who took over from Sarah Fisher for the final day.
Wednesday Session
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m10.5052s
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m10.7146s + 0.2094s
3. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 1m10.7397s + 0.2345s
4. Will Power Penske 1m10.7637s + 0.2585s
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m10.8927s + 0.3875s
6. EJ Viso KV 1m10.9186s + 0.4134s
7. Takuma Sato KV 1m11.1138s + 0.6086s
8. Etc....
Thursday Session
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Will Power Penske 1m09.8724s
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m10.0084s + 0.1360s
3. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m10.0459s + 0.1735s
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m10.0594s + 0.1870s
5. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 1m10.0869s + 0.2145s
6. Takuma Sato KV 1m10.2070s + 0.3346s
7. Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold 1m10.2497s + 0.3773s
8. Etc....
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| Takuma Sato photo: IRL |
photo:IRL