source:
redbullcheeverracing.com
After a two-day test at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway tri-oval
Red Bull Cheever Racing owner Eddie Cheever Jr. says, "Winter testing is now
over. We are all eagerly waiting for the first race where we can put our Toyota
engines to the real test."
Perhaps the person most eager for the start of the IndyCar Series' 10th
anniversary season is Red Bull Cheever Racing newcomer Patrick Carpentier who
will make his IRL debut March 6 at the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami
Speedway.
Carpentier completed 250 laps of testing on Feb. 9 and 10 driving the No.
8.3 Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone car. He was 15th fastest,
yet his best speed of 172.702 mph was only three-tenths of a second behind Dario
Franchitti, who set the pace of the two-day test at 175.574 mph.
"It was fun driving at Phoenix," Carpentier said. "Our test was okay. It was
good in some ways and difficult in other ways. I am still learning how the team
functions. We have a lot of areas where we can improve and we have a good
understanding of what needs to be done. The finest details are extremely
important in the IndyCar Series. It is very competitive."
Preparing for the start of his fifth IndyCar Series season, Alex Barron
completed 304 miles at Phoenix, turning the 17th fastest speed of the two-day
test (172.524 mph) in the No. 51 car.