Scott Dixon has had five months to contemplate what could have been in the '06 IndyCar Series season. OK, time to move on already. source: indycar.com / Dave Lewandowski The fourth-place finisher in the IndyCar Series championship standings - 15 points separated champion Sam Hornish Jr. and Dixon - is looking forward to the two-day Open Test on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval. "I think the (sanctioning Indy Racing League has) done the right thing in trying to compress the season with getting as many races in as possible, a lot of back-to-backs that keeps the audience watching," said Dixon, the 2003 series champion who posted two victories last season with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "But you do have a long downtime, which maybe people will lose a little bit of interest with it, which is frustrating, too. But for a driver, you're out of car now for six months. With no testing, it's very tough. All I want to do is race. All I want to do is drive." IndyCar Series drivers had two days of testing on a modified Daytona International Speedway road course in preparation for five road/street courses - an increase of two - on the 17-race schedule. The two six-hour sessions on the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval will be the only opportunity to go through a long checklist of items before the March 24 prime-time opener at the speedway. "I'm excited for Homestead," Dixon said. "It's going to be good to see how our cars are going to do on the ovals." Four things that highlight the two days of testing: Under the lights The IndyCar Series will open its season with a night race - a first in major open-wheel history. The testing from 4-10 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 22 will allow teams to get a baseline on evening conditions. 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol All IndyCar Series competitors will employ the 3.5-liter Honda Indy V-8 engine fueled by 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The series is the first in motorsports to embrace a renewable fuel source. Drivers reported no interface concerns and were praising the additional low-end torque with the move from the 3.0-liter engine used in '06.
Recent Articles
|
Racing Multimedia
Recommendations |