Homestead-Miami Testing

Dario Franchitti is hoping he'll get the opportunity to try the IRL again. He was signed to race for Andretti Green Racing (AGR) last season, but was sidelined by a back injury after only running in two races. He finished seventh at Miami in March and 16th at Phoenix due to gearbox trouble. He was injured in a motorcycle accident while vacationing in Scotland, but after missing races in Japan, Indianapolis and Texas, he returned to race at Piles Peak in June garnering a top five finish of 4th. Then he had back surgery to correct the results of the injury and was in rehabilitation the rest of the season.

Franchitti is a five year veteran of the CART Series, racing there from 1997 thru 2002. He scored in the top five in points three times, while amassing 10 wins and 11 pole starting positions. AGR is happy to have the up-and-coming open wheel star back in the car for the upcoming season opener in February of 2004.

The first phase of testing has been completed at the newly configured Homestead-Miami facility. The reconfigured banked corners are a concern to the IRL open wheel series. The testing, which included some of the series top drivers, was designed to supply feedback to the IRL officials so that they could let all of the teams know what to expect during regular testing sessions coming up in December to prepare for the season opener at that facility.

Six drivers from five teams participated in the test, which included Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves from Marlboro Team Penske; series champion Scott Dixon from Chip Ganassi Racing; sophomore driver Dan Wheldon from Andretti Green Racing; Scott Sharp from Kelly Racing; and Tomas Scheckter from Panther Racing.

No recorded speeds were released to the press during the first testing phase, but when all of the drivers test there in December, I'm certain that testing speeds at the reconfigured facility will be forthcoming. You can look for the speeds to be quite high, given the advance in the speeds of the stock cars that have already raced there.

2003 IRL Champion Scott Dixon is a nominee for the 39th annual Driver of the Year award which is now presented by the Speed Channel. Dixon is one of eight drivers who have been nominated by various means throughout the racing season.

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