INDYCAR’s final major test of the 2012 calendar year occurred this week at Sebring International Raceway, with about half of the expected 2013 Izod IndyCar Series field taking part.
Times were closely matched Tuesday through Thursday, with Team Penske’s Will Power setting the pace with a lap unofficially clocked at 52.84 seconds. Power said he was pleased to be back in a racing car — especially on a road course — for the first time since the IndyCar season finale in mid-September.
“We had no issues with the car and got up to speed quickly,” he said. “The engine, of all things, has evolved the most. As for the car, there’s not much you can change or develop, so we’ve not gone drastically in any direction. Dampers are about all you can develop. Everything else is the same and standard.
“It’s very competitive, and there were 10 cars lapping within a couple of tenths of each other. This gives us something to think about over the break until we are able to test again in January.”
Scott Dixon had to overcome a suspension failure on his Dallara DW12 and rain that slowed action the first couple of days but said he was pleased with what he and the Ganassi team accomplished after running just 0.1 seconds off Power’s pace.
“A very positive test for the Target team,” Dixon said. “We broke a suspension early but ended up being pretty fast overall, so I’m very optimistic.
“The car is more refined and more reliable, and that will only contribute more to the great racing we saw in IndyCar in 2012.”
Graham Rahal and Simona de Silvestro tested with their new teams. Day 3 was unproductive for Rahal and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing due to a problem with the chassis they were unable to diagnose at the track. (ESPN)
