A late winter trip to NOLA Motorsports Park for preseason testing. Lots of miles and many changes to the car set-up. But it wasn’t just another day at the track.
It was the first day of Verizon IndyCar Series team testing of the new aerodynamic bodywork kits designed, manufactured and supplied by Chevrolet and Honda. The multiple components attached to the Dallara IR-12 rolling chassis will provide performance gains and, as photos in the IndyCar.com gallery are clear, distinguish the manufacturers by their features.
“I like it,” Juan Pablo Montoya said as the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet was rolled to pit lane for the morning session.
A few minutes later on the 2.74-mile, 13-turn road course, drivers were all business as they have few opportunities to prepare for the March 29 season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“In some areas you notice the difference the aero kit makes and others, not as much,” Graham Rahal said of the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. “When we talk about more downforce, typically that is higher speed so in the high-speed areas sure you can feel it but in the slower speed areas it’s not as noticeable.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time and I’m very happy it went as well as it did. We will keep working on it, get better and better and I think we will be good in the end.”
Rahal and his crew will reconvene at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., joined by 22 other drivers/teams March 16-7 for an INDYCAR Promoter Test. The sessions (10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. local) on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course are free and open to the public. Live lap timing both days will be available on www.IndyCar.com. Each car will receive six sets of Firestone primary tires for the test.
“There are so many unknowns. No matter what, there’s a lot of work ahead for the teams to find the best combination for us at a given track and race weekend,” said 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport.
