From: Michael Powell 

TOP TEAMS TEST AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003 – Some of the top IndyCar(R) Series
teams and drivers tested Dec. 3 at Phoenix International Raceway in
preparation for the 2004 season. 

Drivers Robbie Buhl (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing), Sam Hornish Jr.
(Marlboro Team Penske), Scott Dixon, Darren Manning (Target Chip Ganassi
Racing) and Dan Wheldon (Andretti Green Racing) tested on the 1-mile desert
oval.

Wheldon won the 2004 Bombardier Rookie of the Year title and finished 11th
in points, despite competing in only 14 of 16 races. He did not compete at
Phoenix in 2003, but has tested at Phoenix many times for Andretti Green
Racing. 

The Dec. 3 test was Wheldon’s first opportunity to drive on the slightly
reconfigured track. Construction crews eliminated the opening in the
backstretch wall and widened the exit to Turn 2. In addition, a portion of
Turn 4 was torn up to build a tunnel, and a piece of asphalt in that area
had to be repaved. 

“It really hasn't changed too much, as far as what the driver feels,”
Wheldon said. “The entry to Turn 1 is still obviously quite tight, so
you've still got to get the car through there and through the middle of the
corner. 

“You do have a bit more road to play with on the exit, so if you're
under-steering, it does make it a little bit more comfortable from that
standpoint. In (Turns) 3 and 4, the bump on the exit is perhaps not quite
as harsh now. There is definitely not a huge difference.”

Wheldon feels the biggest change may come during racing conditions. 

“It will perhaps make a difference during the race because you will have a
little bit more room on the exit,” Wheldon said. “But, as far as a
qualifying lap, your speed is still dictated by entry and how you get
through the middle of the corner.”

Reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon tested for Target Chip Ganassi
Racing along with his rookie teammate Darren Manning.

“It was great to get back on the track,” Dixon said. “I liked the Phoenix
track before they made the changes to the layout, and it’s definitely
better than it was before. I didn’t turn too many laps out there, but I was
able to get a pretty good feel for the new design. 

“It should allow for more side-by side racing coming out of Turn 2, and
that will be great for both the drivers and the fans. It’s kind of hard to
believe that we’re already getting ready for another season, but I’m
excited about the 2004 season and defending the championship for Team
Target.”

The test marked Manning’s first test in an IndyCar Series car at Phoenix. 

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Manning said. “The cars are powerful and have
great throttle response. Phoenix is one of the more difficult tracks that
we’ll race on next year, so it was good to get out there and get some laps
under my belt.

“It’s quite a feeling, really, to be with such a great team like Target
Chip Ganassi Racing. The cars are strong right off the trucks, and you can
see why they’ve been so successful. These guys have one focus and that is
being the best. I’m looking forward to having a full off-season worth of
testing, which is something that I haven’t had before. It’s going to be a
fun season.”

A late afternoon accident in Turn 2 brought a premature end to Manning’s
day. He was uninjured. 

“The damage wasn’t too severe, but it wasn’t the way I wanted to wrap up
the day,” Manning said. “I would have loved to have been able to put in
another 60 to 70 laps.”

Two-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. was involved in a separate
accident in the morning. He also was not injured. 

Drivers and teams expected to test Dec. 4 at Phoenix include Wheldon
(Andretti Green Racing), Alex Barron and Ed Carpenter (Red Bull Cheever
Racing), and Tomas Scheckter and Mark Taylor (Panther Racing). 




--- Internet Rex 2.29