Current performance is solid while it’s the new-for-2015 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires car’s potential that excited Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon and James Hinchcliffe.

One month after its initial on-track testing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the drivers provided feedback following separate sessions Sept. 5 on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Reigning Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves will add his perspective during testing Sept. 6 on the iconic 2.5-mile oval.

“As far as performance, it feels very good though it’s hard to compare it to the other Indy Lights car,” said Dixon, the three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. “It’s fun going through some setups and driving something different. It’s early in its development with setups, but there are a lot of similarities to the IndyCar in terms of technology and safety. A nice thing is I can take my seat and put it in there, which is well thought out.

“The platform of Indy Lights is very important to see good drivers come through on their way up, hopefully, to the IndyCar Series so I’m happy to assist in any way.”

The turbocharged 4-cylinder Advanced Engine Research engine is mated to a Dallara chassis designed to be fast and safe on the variety pack of racetracks utilized in conjunction with Verizon IndyCar Series race weekends.

“It’s all about getting miles on the car and trying to contribute to the testing program,” said Hinchcliffe, of Andretti Autosport. “You feel out the brakes and the turbocharged engine, which has some different characteristics from the V8 engine that the other car had, and then you get to the chassis side and work on setups to handle each circuit. You have to build up slowly those first couple of runs.

“Every bit of data at this point is valuable. I’m a huge proponent of the Indy Lights series; it was a huge step for me in developing my skills and helping me get up to IndyCar. Anything I can do to help the series grow I’m here. To be part of the development of anything new is a nice new challenge and something fun.”

Josef Newgarden, the 2011 Indy Lights champion who recently completed his third Verizon IndyCar Series season with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, will be behind the wheel of the new car for demonstration laps during the Sept. 13-14 Chris Griffis Memorial Test for all three rungs of the Mazda Road to Indy on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Dallara Automobili will deliver the initial 10 cars to teams in late October, and an offseason Open Test is scheduled for Dec. 17-18 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course and Dec. 20 on the 1.5-mile oval. Teams will be allowed to use both the 2015 and former cars.

“We’ve made a lot of ground (since the initial day at Mid-Ohio),” program manager Tony Cotman said. “It is interesting to get Scott’s feedback on little things such as downshifting and the feel of the brakes that have validated what the other drivers (Tristan Vautier and Conor Daly) have said. The purpose of these exercises is to validate what the manufacturers have tested and then provide teams a reliable product.

“It’s performed flawlessly so far. It’s fast, it’s light and this is a good starting point for teams.”