SEBRING, Fla. -- Josef Newgarden's thoughts as his head hits the pillow will be about what comes next. For the driver who got in his first IZOD IndyCar Series laps in the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car at Sebring International Raceway, it's all about what's next.

“I’ll probably be thinking about a couple of the set-up changes we’ll be making tonight and how they’re going to effect lap times (March 9)," said Newgarden, the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion. "I’m going to be curious about how that affects our time. Obviously, I’m going to be kicking myself a little bit because I didn’t think I got enough out of the new tires we put on this afternoon. I’m a little disappointed about that, but I have some time for redemption.”

The 21-year-old Tennessee native posted 41 laps on the 1.67-mile, 11-turn training ground for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in two weeks (best of 53.2013 seconds). Most were piled up in the afternoon following resolution of a clutch issue in the three hours of track time in the morning.

Nervous for the initial outing in an IndyCar?

“The nerve-wracking part was doing my systems check and trying to get out on a clear track and just do a simple lap and come into the pits," he said. "When I went out, there were just too many cars swarming around me, there was just too much going on. But as soon as we got in a rhythm this afternoon, I felt pretty darn comfortable to be honest. It felt pretty routine and normal.

"We just need to turn laps. Get laps on the car and laps under my belt to keep progressing on the set-up and everything. We got to tune a little bit and learn about a couple of things that affect the car and how they affect the driving style, which is good. But there is obviously a lot more that we need to learn still."

Team co-owner Sarah Fisher didn't hide her enthusiasm after the slow-motion morning.

“For the first day, I’m very impressed with the start," said Fisher, a former IZOD IndyCar Series driver. "He’s young outside the car, but he comes across as very methodical and educated when he’s in the car. He has great feedback. We’re very fortunate to have a trained driver like that, and he’s worked really hard to be here."

The team had been in a holding pattern until receiving its Honda 2.2-liter, turbocharged V-6 engine a week earlier.

"The whole team has put forth an effort to be here today," she continued. "It’s been a great group effort. Standing back and being the face of the team, seeing that teamwork and chemistry already is so encouraging and gratifying.”