Two-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was the quickest overall during the Open Test on March 5-6 and 8-9 at Sebring International Raceway.

Dixon had the only sub-52-second laps during the sessions, with his best time of 51.7932 seconds on March 8 in the morning session on the 1.67-mile, 11-turn course.

According to most drivers, the most important aspect from testing is seat time and learning the nuances of the new IZOD IndyCar Series car and engine package.

"Any track time that we get is so valuable," said Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe, who is among 16 drivers continuing testing this week at Barber Motorsports Park in advance of the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 23-25.

"As we get closer to St. Pete, every bit of mileage gets more and more important. From getting used to all the new features on the car like the brakes or the clutch and other things like that, those are things that we will have to have mastered before the first race. I did a fair bit of testing during the winter and I feel quite acclimatized to the car, but you can never have too much running time."

It rained at the Barber course March 13, but Simona de Silvestro (photo above) made a splash in the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy car.

The 27 drivers who participated in the Open Test checked their own lap times as well as what others were doing.

"It's super important to do tests days like these where there are other cars out because you do have to get a feel for how quickly other people are figuring things out," Panther Racing's JR Hildebrand said. "At the same time, when (Sebring) gets gripped up, it's like no place else. It's rough like a street course and super grippy like a road course. We try to take it for what it is, but it's great to do this much running this close to the season."

IZOD IndyCar Series drivers turned a combined 4,107 laps during the four days -- equivalent to 6,158 miles or driving three round trips between Indianapolis to Sebring International Raceway in Central Florida.

IZOD IndyCar Series drivers race around the clock: Three IZOD IndyCar Series drivers are entered in the 60th 12 Hours of Sebring, which will be held March 17.

Simon Pagenaud (Schmidt/Hamilton Motorsports) will drive a P1 for Muscle Milk Pickett Racing; Ryan Hunter-Reay will compete in P2 for Level 5 Motorsports and E.J. Viso will compete in PC with CORE Autosport.

Others with IZOD IndyCar Series ties in the field are Bertrand Baguette (Oak Racing P1), Martin Plowman and Francesco Draccone (Conquest Endurance P2), Raphael Matos (Performance Tech Motorsports PC), Bruno Junqueira (RSR Racing PC) and Townsend Bell (Alex Job Racing GTC).

Edmonton Indy names new GM: Ike Janacek, 56, has been named general manager of the Edmonton Indy. The Edmonton, Alberta, resident, who served as general manager of Edmonton's Sutton Place Hotel, began his position with Octane Motorsports Events, promoter of the July IZOD IndyCar Series event, on March 12.

"I am extremely proud to welcome Ike Janacek as our new Edmonton Indy general manager," said Octane CEO François Dumontier. "He brings to our team a significant knowledge of Edmonton and its travel business community, having served for the last decade as an executive at one of the city's major hotels. His experience in management, sales, marketing and especially in customer services is unique.

"As I previously said, satisfying customers is part of Octane's DNA. I am confident that with Ike at the helm of the Edmonton Indy, we are more than ever in a position to deliver an outstanding event to our fans."

Added Janacek: "This is the most interesting challenge of my career. For years, I have always been a strong believer that Edmonton was the very best place in Western Canada to host such an event. I now have the opportunity to contribute directly to the success of it."

Gregory & Appel's "Securing Tomorrow Award" expands: Gregory & Appel Insurance is expanding its "Securing Tomorrow" award to all three Mazda Road to Indy series in 2012 -- its seventh season honoring the future stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series.

For 2012, the "Securing Tomorrow" award will be given to the driver in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda, Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and Firestone Indy Lights who accumulates the most race wins during the season.

The USF2000 winner will be awarded $1,000 and the Securing Tomorrow trophy. The Star Mazda winner will be awarded $2,000 and a similar trophy. The Firestone Indy Lights winner will be awarded $3,000 and a trophy.

"We have been impressed with the growth of the Mazda Road to Indy over the past two years and felt the time was right to expand our investment," said Darren Hickey, Vice President Motorsports for Gregory & Appel. "2012 will be a great year for all three series and we look forward to helping these young racers."

Record field hits track for opening round of USF2000 Championship: Thirty-five entries will take the green flag this weekend in the season-opening Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda at Sebring.

A total of 22 Championship Class cars are on the entry list, along with 13 National Class cars, which include 10 of the newly eligible SCCA Formula Enterprises Van Diemen-Mazdas. Previously, the largest field since USF2000 was re-introduced in 2010 after a three-year hiatus comprised 19 cars at the 2011 season finale on the streets of Baltimore.