Following the Feb. 27 manufacturer test at Sonoma Raceway for a half-dozen IZOD IndyCar Series teams, the attention turns to the initial Open Test of the year.
March 12-13 are the dates for the scheduled 16 hours of track time on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn Barber Motorsports Park course that a month later will host the fourth Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Firestone Indy Lights teams will test March 11. Legacy Credit Union has been announced as the sponsor of the Legacy Indy Lights 100 on April 7.
“It definitely feels like the season is almost upon us,” said Graham Rahal, who enters his first season as driver of the No. 15 Honda-powered Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing car. “We need to keep developing the cars and I will keep working with Gerry (Hughes, race engineer) and the guys back at the shop.
“We will work on a setup for Barber and I think we found a lot of things (at the Feb. 19 Sebring test) that will help us there no doubt.”
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 22-24, which Rahal won in 2008 and started from the pole in ’09, precedes the Barber race event April 5-7.
Added team technical director Jay O’Connell: “We have some cars to prepare for the Barber test and we need to digest the details and look at the data from what we learned (at Sebring) and apply it to our road course setup going into Barber. Since the Sebring layout is between a street course and road course, there are some things you can take from there for St. Pete and some things you can take from here for Barber, which we will try at the Open Test.”
During the test, IZOD IndyCar Series teams will have the opportunity to practice standing starts, which will be featured during Race 1 of the doubleheader events at Toronto and Houston. The first pit box on pit road will be set up with a monitoring and lighting system, allowing drivers to practice the standing start launch.
Barber Motorsports Park season pass holders will have special access to view the test on the afternoon of March 12. Season passes are still available and can be purchased at www.barbermotorsports.com.
Event promoter ZOOM Motorsports also announced the addition of the H-BLOCK -- Honda Fan Section ticket. Located trackside in the Red Diamond Fan Zone, the H-BLOCK is a dedicated grandstand for Honda fans to cheer on their favorite Honda drivers.
The ticket includes a reserved seat in the H-BLOCK grandstand, a Honda Fan Pack (hat, rally towel and cinch bag) and a chance to win exclusive Honda prizes.
Fans can purchase H-BLOCK tickets at www.barbermotorsports.com. Upgrades are also available for current ticket holders. Guests to the H-BLOCK must also hold a Sunday general admission ticket to gain attendance to the Barber Motorsports Park. Other ticket packages, starting at $15 with children 12 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult, also are available.