Former Formula One driver Logan Sargeant got his first taste of NTT INDYCAR SERIES machinery Nov. 19, completing 84 laps in the No. 06 Honda of Meyer Shank Racing around the 17-turn, 3.067-mile Thermal Club road course near Palm Springs, California.
Florida native Sargeant was third best among the six drivers in attendance, less than two-tenths of a second behind leader and sports car ace Felipe Nasr, who was testing for Team Penske.
Sargeant and Nasr were joined by Hunter McElrea (No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet), Louis Foster (No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda), Enzo Fittipaldi (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) and Toby Sowery (No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda).
“It’s a pretty cool track,” said Sargeant, 23. “It’s tricky, a little different. Pretty technical, but it’s fun.”
Sargeant and MSR co-owner Michael Shank are aware this test likely won’t lead to a 2025 seat with Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong signed as full-time drivers next season and Helio Castroneves signed for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. But conversations of working together, even for a test, sparked many years ago.
“I talked to Mike (Shank) throughout the years,” Sargeant said. “Nothing really was working at the time. This time it did.”
Shank became aware of Sargeant and his family through Oswaldo Negri, who drove sports cars for MSR from 2004-17 and is friends with the family.
“Logan’s manager is also (F1 driver) George Russell’s manager, and I got to know him through Oswaldo really well, too,” Shank said. “He’s always stayed in touch just to keep an eye out and keep watching.”
Shank did the same for Nyck de Vries in December 2021, offering him a test in one of his cars at Sebring International Raceway without an opportunity for the 2022 season.
Information is valuable.
“We tested Nyck de Vries a few years ago for the same reason,” Shank said. “Now I know what Nyck is. Even though he and I haven’t been able to put anything together, we tried a couple of different times, but it’s just that fundamental knowledge that here’s another potential A-plus talent.
“In this case, I don’t have anything for him (Sargeant) for 2025, but I always have it in the back of my head if we got into a trouble spot and we wanted to try someone, we have a person that we can go to immediately. I think it’s just a rare opportunity to get to test someone who I think has some potential.
“You never know.”
Sargeant, who made 37 F1 starts, became available in August when he was released by Williams Racing and replaced by Franco Colapinto. Strapping into a race car for the first time in four months was an opportunity for Sargeant to knock off the rust.
“It’s nice to just drive again,” he said. “It’s a great group of people and a great team.”
Shank values information from a race car driver possessing a FIA Super License. Formula One drivers must hold a valid FIA Super License to compete in that series. Drivers must meet a strict group of requirements to obtain that license.
“I think when it all came down and his deal went away at Williams, I thought, ‘Well, this guy is a Super License holder and did really well enough, let’s just see where this puts us,” Shank said. “Any time, in my opinion, you can test a person with a Super License, you need to do it.”
Sargeant made a statement possessing speed and car control in vehicle in which he had no previous experience.
“It’s a unique car, for sure,” he said. “It has interesting characteristics and a special way that it feels that it needs to be driven. Sort of brings me back to the F2 feeling days in terms of the steering.”
FIA Formula 2 is one of the few racing series outside of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES that doesn’t provide power steering for its drivers.
Sargeant did have the luxury of racing a hybrid unit in F1 but noted the hybrid system the NTT INDYCAR SERIES debuted July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was less complex.
Once comfort was established, Sargeant’s goal for the test was to enjoy the day. He wanted to learn the car and do a good job for MSR to allow the team to be better prepared next season when the March 23 race at The Thermal Club becomes a points-paying event after serving as an exhibition race in 2024.
“It’s another reason why this is such a great test for the team and not just myself,” Sargeant said. “To be able to see what’s working on the car and what isn’t and what can work for next year. It’s now an important race for the championship.”