Homestead-Miami - Open Test - Preview
source:
irl.racing-live.com
Wednesday morning, twenty IndyCars will take to the
Homestead-Miami Speedway road course for the Indy Racing League's first open
test of 2005. However, before the actual on track testing can take place,
several announcements will occur as the line-up for the 2005 season continues to
take shape.
Among the expected announcements is Ryan Briscoe driving a third Target Chip
Ganassi Racing Toyota/Panoz GForce. Briscoe spent four days this past fall in
Arizona testing both oval and road course configurations for TCGR with the team
quietly impressed. The 23-year old Australian was a test driver for the Toyota
F1 team in 2004.
Scott Sharp's move from the now shuttered Kelley Racing to Fernandez Racing has
been one of the worst kept secrets of the off season with the official
announcement anticipated for early in the week.
Panther Racing looks to be the lone Chevrolet powered entrant in 2005, as the
bowtie will leave the series at the conclusion of the season. But, in the
meantime Panther needs to pin down their driver selection for their second car.
Tomas Scheckter is signed through the 2005 season, and while not finalized, it
appears Czechoslovakian driver Tomas Enge will be his teammate.
"It is our hope that the second driver will be finalized no
later than Wednesday," said Panther co- owner, Doug Boles, who laughed
while noting that is the first day of the test.