Montoya Gets In Groove At Arrow McLaren SP As Newgarden Tops The Charts With Penske At IMS Practice Day 2

Scoring Pylon at Day 1 of open testing during a break soon after some rain. Image Credit: Matt Fraver via NICS (2021) 

Montoya Gets In Groove At Arrow McLaren SP As Newgarden Tops The Charts With Penske At IMS Practice Day 2

INDY 500 Champion Juan Pablo Montoya and 2-Time INDYCAR SERIES Champion Josef Newgarden discuss 2021 season opening two-day practice, at speed and traffic, held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Thursday April 8 & Friday April 9.

A lot was learned, but mostly, those who have already had winning success at a track that holds "the greatest spectacle in racing" showed the better results in pace over these two days of shakedown.

Fact is, any one of the top 15 in the combined speed timing charts would be an easy bet with luck to take home the 105th Running Of The INDY 500 Borg Warner Trophy here in 2021.

Top 15 for three sessions of practice at IMS. Image Credit: NICS (2021)

Josef Newgarden, thirsting for his first INDY 500 win, posted the fastest speed of Friday and the test overall, 226.819 mph, in the No. 2 Chevrolet where Juan Pablo Montoya, Who had won the INDY 500 in 2000 & 2015, posted up at P3 (226.123) in his No. 86 Chevrolet (behind last year's, and 2-time winner, Takuma Sato), is back for another attempt to capture the glory after finishing so close (P6, 2017) last time out.

NTT IndyCar Series News Conference - Friday, April 9, 2021 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Juan Pablo Montoya - Arrow McLaren SP

Josef Newgarden - Penske Racing

Press Conference - Post IMS Practice Day #2

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everybody. We have Juan Pablo Montoya standing by and we expect to have Josef Newgarden, as well. Juan Pablo finished third on the speed chart, pretty successful day with Arrow McLaren SP.

How was your day today, Juan Pablo?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: It was good. I think yesterday was a little shocking getting back in the car. Today was good. We worked through a lot of things. We found a lot of good things and a lot of bad things, like you always do.

It was nice to get back a little bit in the draft. A lot to catch up again, learn, understand again what you need to do, the timing. But everything just starts coming back.

It's funny, getting up to speed yesterday was, Ooh. Today you don't even think about it. This afternoon even better. The first few runs with traffic is like, Ooh. Then you start relaxing, getting in the flow of things. We did some pit stops at the end.

Everyone at Arrow McLaren SP has been doing a very good job. It was fun so far. I think this test was very, very useful.

THE MODERATOR: Yesterday you never really had to do a rookie orientation, refresher program. You had to go through that yesterday, didn't you?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Yes. I was joking to the engineers, said I'm going to run 214.9, 215.1. My second lap was 215.1, then 214.9, 215.2. I'm going, We need to be below 215 (laughter).

THE MODERATOR: You have to go slow before you can go fast.

If you have a question for the two-time Indy 500 champion, go ahead.

Q. I wanted to ask, appeared to be that your car could go pretty much anywhere on the track. When you dropped back, you were able to slice back through the field. Is that because the aerodynamics, the aero changes, are so good, or because your particular car, the 86, is so strong at the moment?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: I felt okay. I didn't feel as good as you said. It's great that it looks like that. I did pass few cars and everything, I could move, I could change, I felt pretty decent at parts.

The thing is, remember, every run you do, you change something. You don't keep the same car, keep doing things. You always trying to improve the feeling, improve the car to maybe be more consistent in clean air, more consistent in the draft, things like that.

As you go through those things, there's some runs that you go out there, you're just in the way, and you hate it. I said like three times today, Hell, I'm not doing this. Actually the word wasn't 'hell' but I'm using the polite word. I said, I'm not doing this and I bailed.

One of them actually bailed and really scared the hell out of me in three and four. I lifted and I didn't even do turn one. I went in the deceleration lane. I'm not doing this (laughter).

Q. Do you feel as well as being fast that your car was actually handling quite well in traffic? Could you kind of like run directly behind someone or do you still need quite a lot of clean air?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: You always need a lot of clean air. Even before this, even the old cars, you need a lot of clean air. With these cars, I think for me personally you still notice the difference.

It's a shame, yeah, I mean, that we didn't -- some people tried the 'push to pass', they did the other test. But it would make racing quite more wild, I think. I know some people don't want wild.

Josef Newgarden prepares to take to the 2.5 mile oval for practice. He didn't know then that his expertly prepared Penske Racing Chevrolet would post the best pace. Image Credit: Chris Jones via NICS (2021)

THE MODERATOR: Also joining us here in the Zoom room, we welcome in the two-time NTT INDYCAR Series champion, Josef Newgarden, as well.

Josef, tell us about your day. Quickest in that session, 226.819 miles per hour.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it was a pretty good day.

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Are you driving?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: No, not yet. I'm still in the parking lot. Where are you?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: I'm in the garage working. We got meetings and things. We love meetings.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Are you trying a new approach this year?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: No, I'm trying to avoid the meetings, but they still make me go.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it was a pretty good day. I was happy enough with the car. I think we still need some work, for sure.

But just to get an initial read on where we're at, obviously there's a lot of new parts, differences to the last couple years. So we're just trying to assess what we need to really work on now these last couple weeks before we get back here in May.

Pretty happy. I felt the Shell Fuel Rewards car looked good. Had some decent speed, which is always nice to see, but doesn't mean much when it comes to race day. We'll see how we shake out as we get to the meat of things in the month of May.

THE MODERATOR: We'll continue with questions.

Q. Juan, wondering how this year's car compares to 2015 and 2000?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: How does it compare? How does the car compare? This is engineer right here (laughter).

They're a little harder to drive, I think. I think the difference between clear air and dirty air is a little bigger. I think the changes from what INDYCAR did, from what everybody says, it's a little harder as before, but not that bad. Put it that way.

Q. What about an extra hundred horsepower?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: After running today, I would be a big fan of that 'push to pass', to be honest.

Q. Josef, how was the Chevy today?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Good. I think Chevy has done a great job, as evidenced with Juan as well. I think the McLaren boys are quick. I think we feel pretty good about things.

I think they've definitely made improvements, and we needed to in the off-season. We all did. Us as a team, I think Chevrolet, we all got together and looked where we were weakest. I think there was a little bit to go around on all sides. They've really stepped up.

We put in a lot of effort. I think we found some good stuff. It's getting hard nowadays. These gains you're looking to find are so small. I think they've managed to find a decent chunk, which is impressive with how far along we are. Very encouraged with Chevrolet.

Q. With the aero changes they were working on in the off-season, bringing them in for the 500 to increase passing, did you notice a difference between last year's aero package compared to this year's?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yes, definitely. It's easier to follow. It's still tough. You'll still get a big front wash in traffic. 10 cars back, it's always going to be difficult. But I think they've made the ability to follow better. That balance separation between clean air and dirty air is definitely reduced.

Some of them are tricky to drive, some of these parts. I think you're seeing some split camps here along pit lane. Not everybody is running the same stuff. That's been interesting to watch. There's more downforce on the car. I think the balance shift in traffic is less.

Yeah, the ability that we're going to have to race compared to last year will be better.

Q. Any restaurant recommendations for Nashville?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Man, there's plenty. If you're into coffee, Barista Parlor. Hot chicken, Hattie Bs. The Southern is very good. There's a lot of good spots. Those are a few.

Q. Juan, this is your first time with the Aeroscreen now. How long did it take you to get used to it? Your thoughts on it so far?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: It wasn't too bad to get used to it. I thought it would be a little more intrusive. It's definitely a pain in the butt to get in and out of the car, and it's a lot hotter. I know like here it hasn't been that bad in the oval. I did a test in Laguna. In a road course, you don't get a lot of air. That was kind of shocking.

Yeah, I mean, it's kind of weird because, like, you're really in a little bubble. It feels a little bit once you're driving like a sports car.

But you're with a closed visor, I still don't get why you have to run -- I don't think you have to. I think you probably do, but I'm used to sports cars. Same thing you're with the visor open so you get a little more air.

It's good. It's fine. I think from the safety point of view, it's a great thing. It's a matter of getting used to it more than anything else.

Q. Some of the guys last year talked about it was harder to find a limit with the open cockpit. Did you find it harder to find a limit in your car today?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: No, because I come from a sports car and a closed cockpit car. For me, it's the same thing. It doesn't really change that much. I think for the guys that are used to the open cockpit, might be a little harder.

I've driven a lot of closed cars. Last four years, I've mainly been driving sports cars, P2 cars. Feels about the same.

Q. Josef, how much did you notice any differences in the car today from the test last October?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: When were we here? I thought it was the beginning of November.

Q. When you tested these configurations.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: It's identical to the final config that we ran in November. From then it's the same. Literally the last that config that we ran is what you can put on the car, at least the maximum amount. It's pretty similar to what we tested, I mean, the same.

Q. The weather conditions play a role today with traffic?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I mean, I think it was a pretty easy day. It was pretty ideal conditions. Not too hot. Certainly not too cold. A little bit windy. That was probably the most difficult part about the day, was the wind, the movement of the car. Pretty standard for this place. You're always kind of fighting that depending where it's coming from. It's always playing a factor.

Weather wasn't an issue. It was a pretty easy day, for the most part, to be honest.

Q. I noticed the turn two trap speed chart, seems like the guys at the top of the speed chart were good there. Is that one of the more important corners to get right at this track?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I think that was probably the most difficult corner as far as wind today. For most of the day you had a tailwind going into two, you had the side wind on the track. It could catch you out. It was difficult in traffic to get it right. Someone was having a big tow, it was one of the tougher corners to get right. That's probably why you saw the cars that were quick and good, they were typically pretty good through two, as well.

Q. I know yesterday probably had to be a little bit of a frustrating day. What kind of energy and excitement do you get from a day like this where you have eight, nine cars running in packs? Does a day like this on the track really invigorate you to get this season started here?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: For me personally, I think it's definitely a huge thing. I know yesterday we didn't run as much as we could. In a way, I'm pretty happy it worked out that way. We did the refresher. We did installation up in the morning. I had a look at everything the other guys were doing, just to relax with the guys and everything. It wasn't too bad.

At the end of the day we managed to get the refresher done. It was good. It was good because it still feels like this place is fast. When you do it often, you lose the appreciation of how fast you go. It was nice to get a night's sleep on it. Yesterday when I was done, I was like, This place is quick. Today it was like, Aah, it's normal. So it was nice.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, obviously for someone like Juan, this test is great. Even for all of us that have been regulars here, this is a great test to have, to give a warmup for the month of May. It felt like the month of May, to be honest with you, typical day to start out.

Yeah, pretty happy we got this peek into the future.

THE MODERATOR: We want to say thank you to Juan Pablo Montoya for stopping by. Appreciate you doing so after a couple busy days. The month of May will be here before we know it.

We'll continue with Josef Newgarden.

Q. A couple of the engineers and a few of the other drivers were conjecturing that with the package the way it is, it's going to be two cars, the second-place car will kind of have an advantage. They think anything further back than two cars you might have five cars running in a pack, but the fifth-place car and fourth-place car don't have much of a shot. Does it feel that way to you?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I mean, certainly last year that was the case. I think you have a better opportunity this year looking at the amount of downforce we have, the balance shift in and out of traffic. I think you have a better opportunity to fight for the win in the third or fourth car in line.

I think more than that, you are a quick car during the race, you somehow find yourself in the back, I think you have a better opportunity of making your way forward. Those two elements will automatically help the show. But you don't want to have it so easy where we're packed up the entire field the entire time. I think that's something that you would want to avoid.

It's a balancing act. I think it will be a lot better than last year as far as the ability to race up front. Time will tell. But I think you'll have a better show.

Q. In Happy Hour we saw some pretty good passing and some dicing around out there. Some of the drivers said the dicing was a little bit by design. When you have these test sessions, do you go in with the mindset of trying different things to see how they work so when you're back here when it matters you'll know what it's going to do?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, I mean, definitely. We're constantly trying to assess everything. Today we were spot checking some qualifying stuff early on. We got into race running, just tried to focus on how our cars were in race traffic.

At the end of the day that's going to be probably the most important thing. Yeah, when we're out there running, it's for real. There's people that drop back every now and then. That's not real passes. As far as the way we're running in line, we're trying to simulate it as much as the race.

It's very much the real deal what people are seeing.

Q. Considering you're one of the more we'll say older statesmen now at Penske Racing. These days you've just had at Indy, how valuable are they for someone like Scott McLaughlin?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Tremendously. Scott has been so much fun to be around because he's truly a rookie in INDYCAR. Everything that he does is like the coolest thing ever. So to see that perspective again after having been here myself for 10 years, it's just really fun. It's really fun to see that through his eyes.

But it's a very valuable day. He's soaking everything up. Every moment he's getting better. He's doing a really good job trying to take time, ask a lot of questions, pay attention to every detail. He's really switched on. He's a smart race car driver. He's doing all the right things to figure out how to be good in this category.

I think you can come to expect that. I think he will be very competitive this year. So, yeah, valuable day for him, for sure.

Q. For Roger, what do you think this means to him, building up to what could be a great month of May this year by comparison to what we had last year?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Certainly, Roger has a lot of pride in this place, and he should. This is an amazing facility. He is a very deserving captain to lead this ship. I think we're all pretty happy that he's at the helm of it.

He's beaming to be out here every day. He's always excited, excited for what we're doing as a team, but more excited for what the Speedway is doing. There's no one that wants fans here more than Roger, I can tell you that. I think if we get a semi-filled up crowd, he's going to be a very happy man. We're all going to be very happy.

This place was built for fans. That's what this track is all about. We get to the month of May, have some people in the stands, it's going to be good for everybody.

Q. To Barber, how important is it to get points on the board early on and kick-start the season in the most positive way?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it's always important. I always tell people, I tell the team, Let's get on the board today. We don't need to win the race, but we need to score some points, have a good showing, set ourselves up for a good year.

That's what we try to do. That's what we're going to try to do next weekend.

Q. Did you get a feel for how the Chevy and Honda balance power is at the moment? I realize it's difficult in these conditions to judge. We all know what happened last year. You guys were powerful but didn't have the fuel economy.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it's hard to say. It looks a lot more even this year, is what I would say at the moment. Someone could obviously be miles ahead by the time we get to the month of May. It's possible. But I would say it looks a lot more even right now than where we were at last year.

We're all excited about that. I think Chevrolet has done a great job. It's going to provide an interesting show for everybody.

Q. Did you check out how far you could go on a tank of fuel, turbo boost level, fuel rich level?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, we didn't do a lot of economy stuff today. We just did it -- I didn't run through any mixtures. I think there's still some questions to be answered in the month of May. We were trying to check off some bigger team item stuff.

Chevy has more manpower than just us at Team Penske. Not sure what they're up to. We're going to debrief with them after a test like this. We're pushing. I think we're going to be in a good spot looking at the initial information.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Josef Newgarden.

[ht: FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports]

Race fans tuning in on Peacock saw an afternoon full drivers of drafting for position down the main straightaway and the backstretch and exciting passes into the corners, all causing one to salivate at the thought of the increased on-track competition we can expect to see next month. Image Credit: Chris Jones via NICS (2021)

This Field Is Close!

By Zach Horrall | Published: Apr 10, 2021 - Post 2-Day Test @ INDYCAR.COM

Team Penske posted a strong showing at the Indy 500 Open Test, potentially a sign of what’s to come, as Josef Newgarden posted the fastest speed of Friday and the test overall, 226.819 mph, in the No. 2 Chevrolet. His teammates were seventh (Will Power), 11th (Simon Pagenaud) and 18th (Scott McLaughlin).

Team Penske had an off year by its standards in 2020 at Indianapolis, as Newgarden led the team with a fifth-place finish, the only top 10 the team produced last year in the “500.”

“It was a really just a nice preview of the Month of May to kind of validate some of the work we’ve done at the shop,” Newgarden said. “We’ve tried to make our cars quicker, inherently, by themselves and make them better in traffic. Those are the two ingredients here to be fast and win races. I think we’re in a better spot. It feels that way. I’m really happy with my Shell Fuel Rewards car, and I think Chevy has done a great job. We know we needed to be better, and I think we’ve shown up with better weapons. I’m excited to get back here for the Month of May.”

However, Team Penske was just inches ahead of the rest of the field.

The separation between the 31 NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars Friday was just one and a half seconds from leader Newgarden to slowest Cody Ware. Sato was just .0742 of a second slower than Newgarden,

Sato hit that top speed while running in one of the many multi-car packs that hit the track Friday afternoon. 

Additionally, the 10 fastest speeds were evenly split between the series’ two manufacturers, Chevrolet and Honda. While a Chevrolet driver paced the overall field, it was Honda that had the fastest no-tow speed.

If race fans take anything away from the Indy 500 Open Test, it’s that the field that is expected to return for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30 will be separated by just mere car lengths as 33 of the best drivers in the world battle for racing immortality at the Racing Capital of the World.

ENDS

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: Juan Pablo Montoya, Josef Newgarden, Penske Racing, Arrow McLaren SP, INDY 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, 2021, 105th Running, Practice, The EDJE

Bumpy Start To Season In 1st IMS Open Test Has ECR On It's Heels

Ed Carpenter prepares to take to the track at IMS for the first time in open practice April 8, 2021. Image Credit: ECR via Instagram (2021)

Bumpy Start To Season In 1st IMS Open Test Has ECR On It's Heels

Ed Carpenter will be fielding three cars for the 2021 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 30th 11:OOam ET. 

Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) car numbers and drivers as follows - No. 20 - Ed Carpenter | No. 47 - Conor Daly | No. 21 - Rinus VeeKay.

NTT IndyCar Series News Conference - Thursday, April 8, 2021 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Ed Carpenter - Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR)

Press Conference - Performed after the first half day of open testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Month Of May's INDY500

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks, everybody, for tuning in, Zooming in, if you will, after the first half of the day, day one of the Indy 500 open test. Certainly an interesting day for Ed Carpenter Racing, Conor Daly, P1 in the 47 car, top speed of 222.714 miles an hour. Ed second quick in the 20 machine. His Rookie of the Year from last year, Rinus VeeKay, with an interesting day as well.

We'll begin things with Ed. How would you describe day one today for the IMS Indy 500 open test?

ED CARPENTER: Not the way we had exactly hoped it would go. You never want to lose one of your three cars kind of in the first 10 minutes of the session. That was a bit of a bumpy way to start the test.

We do have three cars, so Conor and I carried on. We were able to get a little bit of work done. By the time Rinus' yellow and cleanup was done, we had about 90 minutes of track activity, but probably only 45, 50 minutes of that by the time you get installs done.

We were able to get a couple changes in really just to establish a baseline. There's a lot to do now tomorrow, a lot of new parts to test. We were able to test some of them last fall. There's a lot to work through to be ready for when we come back for Indy 500 prep.

THE MODERATOR: How is Rinus doing?

ED CARPENTER: I think he's okay. Disappointed. Obviously not the way he wanted to start either. It's easy to be upset about things like that. The conditions were a little tricky with the wind. It's an inexperience thing still. He's got a year under his belt, but it was a truncated year.

He did so well at Indy last year, but got a little bit ahead of himself today. Didn't quite have a feel for his balance, got a little bit too aggressive in one.

I know he'll bounce back. He's shown that he can bounce back from unfortunate circumstances in the past. I know he'll be ready when he gets back out there.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open for questions.

Q. Is there anything you could really take away from today, given it was kind of a truncated day for you guys? If you can get the car back on the road for Rinus tomorrow, do you expect him to run, given that he's injured his finger?

ED CARPENTER: It's my understanding that he's cleared. I know the guys took that car back to the shop. If we can get that car together, it's possible he runs tomorrow.

I don't know that we would pull out his backup, just because it will be the race car for Barber, St. Pete and Texas. It's all a little tight to going racing, the risk, potentially another excursion.

If the guys can get that other car back together, possibly. I don't really know. I was focusing on what I was doing with my car, debriefing with Conor. A lot of guys had gone back to the shop to evaluate all that, see where they were.

I'm waiting to hear from Tim Broyles, our team manager, on that. One of the good things about being a driver today, I don't have to worry about everything, I can focus on what we have going on track and what we have to accomplish tomorrow yet with my run plan.

THE MODERATOR: How much did the weather play a factor in what you had planned today?

ED CARPENTER: The day was definitely short. Felt like May watching the radar already. Yeah, I mean, we certainly had a lot more we wanted to do. We really just did a baseline, made one small adjustment to kind of adapt for conditions. Have a lot to do yet.

Essentially we each just got a baseline run in. I only did nine laps. Happy the car has had some pace, we were able to get a good draft. At the same time it doesn't really mean anything after just a brief period of running, and not everybody out there yet.

Q. I know you were planning on two full days. Do you feel like one full day, as long as we don't get any more weather, will be enough to accomplish everything? Will you be able to squeeze everything in to tomorrow that you would have hoped for over two days?

ED CARPENTER: We'll do the best we can. You would always take more time if you could get it. At the end of the day, for the most part, everyone is going to have the same opportunity to have the same amount of track time.

Don't worry about it too much. Weather and changing schedules is something we've all gotten quite adept at over the past year. Looks like it's going to be a better weather day tomorrow. The six hours will go quick.

Some of the things we wanted to do, it would have been nice to have our session, lunch break, go back out and do some longer changeover types of things that we may have to scrap till we come back.

If we can be efficient, we can still get through everything we wanted to, at least the big items.

Q. You had a handful of changes to the car as far as the aerodynamics are concerned. You've had a little bit of time to look at those things. How important is the setup two days to getting like you feel like you're really ready to go once we get to May?

ED CARPENTER: Well, certainly if you come out of this test and have success and are able to get a good baseline, it will springboard you into a quick week of practice leading into qualifying.

In a perfect world, we would feel really happy with our cars, how they're running in traffic. With the speed we have out of our Chevy engines, worst-case scenario, we have a good idea of what we need to improve on coming out of this test coming back.

Either way we'll have things we want to improve on. Hopefully we come out of it with good speed and feeling good about how the cars are handling in traffic. We'll fine-tune it for practice leading into qualifying and the race.

Q. We have an oval event before Indy this year with Texas. How relevant is that going to be in terms of what you do with your setup leading into the month of May, as well?

ED CARPENTER: I mean, setups are quite different from Texas to Indy. I think probably -- I mean, I like that we have an oval before. It's nice to be able to get two races under our belt for me.

But compared to when Indy was the first oval, especially having three in a row with Barber, St. Pete and Texas, it presents a little bit of a challenge with car rotation and spares potentially and things like that. We've known the schedule for a long time and have a good plan. I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Q. Were you able to do enough running in traffic to get a sense if there's any improvement with the changes made to the cars?

ED CARPENTER: No, not yet. I got a one-car tow, but it was about seven seconds out, so not really a good enough read to start to fully establish that.

We had some of the parts on, not all of them. There are a lot of different configurations out there. Definitely need more time. There's really no group that formed in the short amount of time we had. Still plenty to learn. But I'm sure we'll get through that tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Ed, what is the rest of your night looking like? On dad duty?

ED CARPENTER: Yeah, Ryder has a class here till 7:30. I'll be watching that, maybe answering some emails. We're supposed to have a team owners call at 7, but that got pushed till 8 because cars are on track later. Wait for him till 7:30, go home and get some dinner, get the boys a shower, I might take one myself, rinse and repeat.

THE MODERATOR: Nothing confirmed yet about when we're going to start back up tomorrow morning. For those of you joining us, we'll pass that information along as soon as we get it.

Ed, thanks so much. Have a great evening. Tell everybody we said hi.

ED CARPENTER: Will do. Thanks.

[ht: FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports]

ECR, Fast They Are 

By Zach Horrall | Published: Apr 10, 2021 - Post 2-Day Test @ INDYCAR.COM

Ed Carpenter Racing had a strong showing at the Indy 500 Open Test as the team hopes to get back to its speedy ways at the Racing Capital of the World. After Thursday and Friday, it appears it’s back on track.

Conor Daly was fastest in the first veteran practice Thursday in the No. 47 Chevrolet with a best lap speed of 222.714 mph. His boss and teammate, Ed Carpenter, was second fastest in the session driving the No. 20 Chevrolet, with a speed of 221.296 mph.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, VeeKay started his 2021 season Thursday much like he started the 2020 season: in the wall.

VeeKay’s car dipped low into the grass inside Turn 1 in the No. 21 Chevrolet and did nearly a full clockwise spin before hitting the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1 with the right front and right side of the car. The car then spun twice and slid through the short chute before stopping at the entrance of Turn 2 with heavy damage. VeeKay suffered a broken finger in the crash but has been cleared to drive.

After a tongue lashing from boss Carpenter, VeeKay learned his lessons after crashing twice in his series debut last June at Texas. There’s no reason to believe he won’t do the same this time.

The ECR duo of Daly and three-time Indy 500 pole winner Carpenter started Friday where they left off, at the top of the charts. Daly remained on top the first half of the day and ended the day sixth fastest with a best lap of 225.639 mph. Carpenter was 14th fastest.

“I think INDYCAR has made some good decisions on helping us out a little bit after seeing the race last year and some downforce options,” Daly said. “These laps are so important. So, so important. That’s why we hated seeing the rain (Thursday). It’s good to have some speed. The car has felt comfortable so far.”

One of the most constant pieces of the Indianapolis 500 over the last decade is the speed of ECR, and the three-car team looks poised to continue its trend of qualifying a car in the first three rows of the Indianapolis 500. Every year since 2013, ECR has placed at least one car in the first nine positions, including last year when VeeKay qualified fourth. 

Will 2021 make it nine straight?

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Rinus VeeKay, ECR, US Air Force, Sonax, Chevrolet, Zach Horrall, IMS, The EDJE

Petersen Automotive Museum Rites Of Spring So. Cal. Motor Culture Experience - Chip Ganassi

Scott Dixon nails down his sixth NTT INDYCAR SERIES season championship during a time when this fabulous exhibit on the successes of Chip Ganassi Racing was placed on hiatus due to health event protocols. Ganassi represents a sporting motor culture one can taste and it is on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)  

Petersen Automotive Museum Rites Of Spring So. Cal. Motor Culture Experience - Chip Ganassi

Opening March 25, 2021, after being closed due to the recognition of our nationwide response to the pandemic virus invasion termed COVID-19, The Petersen Automotive Museum continues to pay tribute to the incredible motorsports career of driver and most famously renowned racing team owner through the exhibit, "Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks To Success | 30th Anniversary Tribute."

This exhibit, that is located on the second floor to one's left, as they exit the elevator, on the right of the center aisle motorcycle display in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery of the museum, opened mid-December 2019. The exhibit features a video expose displayed on the walls behind some of the most winning cars fielded by this pillar of American Motorsports history. Yes, the exhibit has been updated to reflect the fact Scott Dixon is now a six-time season series champion of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES which happened in the COVID-19 protocol enhanced 2020.

Entrance to "Fast Tracks To Success" and there have been many of them. Here's just a thumbnail sketch (by no means a highlight reel) on Chip Ganassi and its incredible contribution to the American/World arena of motorsports - the only team to win the Indianapolis 500 (four times), the Brickyard 400, the Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona (seven times), the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans - such a winning tradition. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

"The new exhibit tells a visual story of Chip Ganassi Racing’s success over the last 30 years," said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges at the opening presentation. "Once they step inside the gallery, see the cars and watch the accompanying 180-degree video, visitors will truly be able to feel the excitement and appreciate the history behind each of the vehicles."

When one enters the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery, the display of 10 vehicles include the 1983 Patrick Wildcat MK9B raced by Chip Ganassi to his best finish at the Indianapolis 500; the Lexus-powered 2006 Riley MK XI raced by Scott Dixon at the 24 Hours at Daytona; the 2010 Dallara IR-05 driven to victory at the Indianapolis 500; the 2016 Ford GT that finished first in the LM GTE Pro category 50 years after Ford’s iconic first-, second- and third-place victories in 1966; and the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Kurt Busch.

A new NASCAR platform will join the 2001 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid, driven by Sterling Marlin at Michigan International Raceway for Chip Ganassi Racing's first NASCAR victory and the 2010 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Impala, driven by Jamie McMurry which delivered the Daytona 500 & Brickyard 400 wins in the 3 car NASCAR portion of the exhibit. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

Following a strong career as a driver, Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990. The team’s track record includes 16 championships and 200 victories. It is the only team to win the Indianapolis 500 (four times), the Brickyard 400, 24 Hours at Daytona (seven times), 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Adding to the prestige, it is also the only team to win 24 Hours at Daytona three times consecutively and the only team to win 24 Hours at Daytona, the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 in one 12-month span.

Last year, Los Angeles had to do without its long-standing motor culture "rites-of-spring" experience when the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach was cancelled due to this health event originating from Wuhan, China. In 2021, the event isn't cancelled, but moved off to become the season finale of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season SEPT. 24-26, 2021. This still leaves quite a void for motor culture enthusiasts needing to feel the year kick off in a proper way since the Long Beach Grand Prix, which was always traditionally run in the March/April timeframe for the better part of 45 years.

Sports Cars may be one of the toughest racing environments to compete in since the vehicles entered are so varied in terms of concept and support from the different manufacturers/privateers. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

Eight special exhibit collections will be there to greet you - “Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed,” which showcases the evolution of the supercar; “Extreme Conditions,” which highlights 11 custom competition, recreational, and utilitarian off-roading vehicles; “Redefining Performance,” which features Porsche’s most innovative road and race vehicles; “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” with repositioned presentations; “Reclaimed Rust: The James Hetfield Collection,” a Petersen Museum donated exclusive; “Building an Electric Future” presented by Volkswagen; and, of course “The Aesthetic of Motoring: 90 Years of Pininfarina,” which will make for a very full and thought provoking visit.

Recommendation? Get a fanny, or a group of fannies, over to the Petersen Automotive Museum where one can spend an easy three hours slowly walking, photographing, and reading about Human transportation devices that add to the expansion of one's living and life experiences.

“Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks to Success | 30th Anniversary Tribute” was originally set to close January 31, 2021, but since the museum was closed for the pandemic, this wonderful tribute has been extended to the end of 2021. It is the intention of Petersen Automotive Museum to have all current exhibits run through the end of 2021 (check status when reserving your admission). To learn more about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit https://www.petersen.org/tickets.

The Petersen Automotive Museum will reopen to the public on Thursday, March 25, 2021 on a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets for all visitors must be purchased in advance on the Petersen website, and all guests will be required to wear masks during their visit.

To express its gratitude to all those on the front line during this challenging time, the museum will offer verified health care workers and first responders complimentary admission for themselves and up to three immediate family members for the rest of 2021.

Let the new tradition of Southern California's rites of spring begin with an annual visit (or two) to the Petersen Automotive Museum. Pretty cool.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #petersenmuseum, Building an Electric Future, Extreme Conditions, Hollywood Dream Machines, Reclaimed Rust, Redefining Performance, Supercars, Chip Ganassi, The EDJE

Petersen Automotive Museum Rites Of Spring So. Cal. Motor Culture Experience - Pininfarina

"The Aesthetic of Motoring: 90 Years of Pininfarina" - the exhibit is capped by the all electric "Batista" (image left) - The Battista ushers in a new dimension in hypercar design and performance, inspired by a legendary past. It combines true innovation in its technical prowess and emotive form. Simply stated, the 1,900-horsepower hypercar can hit 180 mph faster than an F-16 jet with a slippery eye-catching design that calls one in. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

Petersen Automotive Museum Rites Of Spring So. Cal. Motor Culture Experience - Pininfarina

Opening March 25, 2021, after being closed due to the recognition of our nationwide response to the pandemic virus invasion termed COVID-19, The Petersen Automotive Museum launches a special new exhibition titled "The Aesthetic of Motoring: 90 Years of Pininfarina" - featuring the significance and evolution of the Italian car design firm and coachbuilder.

This exhibit, that is located just to one's right, as they enter the museum, is an esthetic tour de force that shows off  a curated display of four key automobiles representing its storied 90-year history.

Born in Italy, applied to many chassis solutions throughout the world. Image Credit: Ted Seven via #petersenmuseum (2021)

Vehicles on display will include a 1931 Cadillac Model452A Boattail Roadster, the first Pininfarina body mounted on a non-Italian chassis; a 1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupe, widely considered one of the most attractive vehicles ever built; a 1966 Dino Berlinetta 206 GT Prototype, the first mid-engine Ferrari; and a 2019 Automobili Pininfarina “Battista,” which is an early design model of the luxury hypercar rather than a functioning automobile. 

Fly Yellow 1966 Dino Berlinetta 206 GT Prototype looking at the display design star of the show, the 2019 Automobili Pininfarina “Battista” ... but this shot goes away next month. Image Credit: Ted Seven via #petersenmuseum (2021)

A 1967 Ferrari 365P Berlinetta Speciale “Tre Posti,” the last vehicle bodied by Pininfarina for a private client, will replace the 1966 Dino Berlinetta 206 GT Prototype in April 2021 - so come early because this Fly Yellow Dino is a "Not Miss" experience.

Cadillac wasn't the only American automobile manufacture to enjoy the design fruits of this Turin imagination powerhouse, Nash Kelvinator introduced in 1952 the Nash Ambassador Custom 2 door, "Pinin Farina" as its most luxurious car and built 1,178 according to Mecum Auctions. Image Credit: Ted Seven via #petersenmuseum (2021)

Last year, Los Angeles had to do without its long-standing motor culture "rites-of-spring" experience when the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach was cancelled due to this health event originating from Wuhan, China. In 2021, the event isn't cancelled, but moved off to become the season finale of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season SEPT. 24-26, 2021. This still leaves quite a void for motor culture enthusiasts needing to feel the year kick off in a proper way since the Long Beach Grand Prix, which was always traditionally run in the March/April timeframe for the better part of 45 years.

Recommendation? Get a fanny, or a group of fannies, over to the Petersen Automotive Museum where one can spend an easy three hours slowly walking, photographing, and reading about Human transportation devices that add to the expansion of one's living and life experiences.

Beautifully sculpted rear end areo elements of the 2019 Automobili Pininfarina “Battista" with the 1966 Dino Berlinetta 206 GT Prototype as a backdrop. Rarified air, indeed. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

Eight special exhibit collections will be there to greet you - “Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed,” which showcases the evolution of the supercar; “Extreme Conditions,” which highlights 11 custom competition, recreational, and utilitarian off-roading vehicles; “Redefining Performance,” which features Porsche’s most innovative road and race vehicles; “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” with repositioned presentations; “Reclaimed Rust: The James Hetfield Collection,” a Petersen Museum donated exclusive; “Building an Electric Future” presented by Volkswagen; and, of course “The Aesthetic of Motoring: 90 Years of Pininfarina,” which will make for a very full and thought provoking visit. 

If this isn't enough to itch the racin' bug, there is one more exhibit "CHIP GANASSI: FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS" that shows off the career of Chip Ganassi and its incredible contribution to the American/World arena of motorsports - the only team to win the Indianapolis 500 (four times), the Brickyard 400, the Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona (seven times), the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans - such a winning tradition.

The Petersen Automotive Museum will reopen to the public on Thursday, March 25, 2021 on a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets for all visitors must be purchased in advance on the Petersen website, and all guests will be required to wear masks during their visit. For more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum and its exhibits, visit Petersen.org/tickets.

To express its gratitude to all those on the front line during this challenging time, the museum will offer verified health care workers and first responders complimentary admission for themselves and up to three immediate family members for the rest of 2021.

Let the new tradition of Southern California's rites of spring begin with an annual visit (or two) to the Petersen Automotive Museum. Pretty cool.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: Petersen Automotive Museum, Chip Ganassi, Pininfarina, Supercars, Extreme Conditions, Reclaimed Rust, Hollywood Dream Machines, Building an Electric Future, Redefining Performance, The EDJE

Less Is More For Romain Grosjean After First DCR Honda Drive At Barber Motorsports Park

At Barber Motorsports Park, Romain Grosjean prepares to get into a cockpit of a Dallara/Honda NTT INDYCAR for the very first time with the motor running in anger. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via NICS 2021

Less Is More For Romain Grosjean After First DCR Honda Drive At Barber Motorsports Park

For Romain Grosjean's (#r8g) first test in an NTT INDYCAR at Barber Motorsports Park, he was beginning to discover that less is more as it relates to the driving excitement found in the technical specification platform built by Dallara, powered by Honda, and set up by a much smaller crew that what he was familiar with in Formula 1. 

For example, he was assigned "the" engineer that gave Sebastien Bourdais most of his awesome set-ups ... and it doesn't hurt that his native language is French (for those deeper, more exploratory discussions about platform handling away from pitlane).
 

A recent comment published from Romain expressed that he's excited to join a racing series with a field of more closely prepared machines - "Although I’m not ready yet to take on the ovals, IndyCar has a much more level playing field than what I have been used to in my career so far. It will be exciting to challenge for podiums and wins again." 

"Formula 1 lacks ‘excitement’ of IndyCar" said one Planet F1 headline.

Dale Coyne and Rick Ware are banking on it.

 

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NTT IndyCar Series News Conference - Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Romain Grosjean - Driver. Dale Coyne Racing with RWR

Press Conference - First Test - Barber Motorsports Park

THE MODERATOR: Good evening, everyone. My name is Dave Furst from INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Glad you could join us after a busy day of testing at Barber Motorsports Park. We'll take a few questions here in just a bit.

If you've been following the day, Romain Grosjean had his first test in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES driving the No. 51 for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, and Romain joins us from Birmingham, Alabama. A lot of questions but some general thoughts just to begin with on getting into the race car, your first time driving an INDYCAR. How was it?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: It felt good. It really felt like home at the beginning. Obviously, it's a new car, so I just had to adjust a little bit to my new driving position and so on, but things very quickly felt quite smooth, which was good, and then I discovered the joy of not having a power steering wheel, and I don't regret all those hours in the gym, but maybe I'll do some more just in case.

THE MODERATOR: Of course there's the other storyline; this is the first time you'd been in a race car since the accident in Bahrain. How did the hand hold up today?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: It went okay. I mean, it's not -- as I say, it's not perfect. There's a nice big blister on my left thumb which is not pretty, but driving-wise it was okay. It wasn't painful. I was being a bit careful on some of the curves, but generally, it hasn't been a limitation.

Q. When you told your children, hey, I'm going to go back, I'm going to get back in the car today, what was their reaction? Did you have to soothe any of their fears or anything like that?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: No, they were actually super excited, and I've been sharing and talking with them a lot, and we made some video calls over the last few days and I showed them the car, and they were happy. It was hard to know that I was going to go away for like 18 days, but they were happy, and yes, I sent them pictures so they could follow on social media a bit, and yeah, I think they know that their daddy is doing what he likes, so I think that's the most important for them.

Q. Adapting to a car without power steering, how heavy did the steering wheel feel? I know there are a couple of turns there at Barber that are pretty heavy turns working the wheel. How big of a transition was that for you?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: It's definitely the hardest steering wheel I've had to cope with. The first few laps, the muscles weren't quite warmed up or ready for it. It got better at the end, which is always a good sign. I'll know where to exactly where to work in the gym and what to do. I also know that's the hardest track of the year, which is always good to start with so you have a baseline of what it's going to be like. But yeah, I think I can fine-tune my training. I didn't know really what to expect, and now it's pretty clear.

Q. What about the acceleration in an INDYCAR compared to Formula 1?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, I mean, there is less power. That is for sure. But I observed that the mechanical grip of the car is pretty outstanding and therefore you can try different lines in the corner and you can actually make it smooth in the way you want it.

I think I could go on for a long time comparing Formula 1 and INDYCAR, but I don't think it's doing any favor to anyone. I think really what I've found here is that there's a lot of mechanical grip and less aero than the Formula 1 car and obviously a little bit less power, but that the drivability of the engine, the modes of the engine, the different maps we tried worked really well.

Q. What about the difference in team? I know in a typical Formula 1 season -- Formula 1 team probably has more people in their catering and hospitality department than Dale Coyne has on his entire team. What's it been like adapting to -- Dale is a racer, he runs a lean machine, but everybody kind of pitches in and helps out. What's it like working for Dale Coyne now?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, yes, it's one of the smaller teams of the championship, but it doesn't mean that no one -- the guys here are very motivated. They do a great job. They've been turning the car quick. They've got some good experience. So really I don't think it's anything to be bad or to be ashamed of. I think, yes, we are a smaller team, but also if you think the car may be a little bit complex in terms of -- because they are spec parts, it doesn't mean they are easy to set up. But I think we can do a great job with what we have, and that's why I took the challenge.

Yes, there are less people, but I think generally I've been getting on very well with everyone, and I haven't really felt any limitation in terms of working on the car.

Q. Just wondered what your plan was for the day today, if you can kind of run through what you were hoping to achieve at the start of the day and whether you actually got through all of those things that you wanted to kind of do.

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, well, the first thing was to get adapted to the car, to understand the way it works and making sure that the seat position was good, which it was, so that was already the first good thing. We tried different setups on the car just for me to have a feel what does happen when we change this setup or this setup because obviously when you get to the racetrack you never really have so much time. We didn't look at finding the perfect balance, but we looked more at making sure that I had an idea of what was happening while we were changing big things on the car.

Q. You've spoken a lot about your accident last year and how that affected you sort of following that. How did it kind of feel just getting out of the car, coming out of the pits and getting those first few laps in, kind of refreshing your brain and bouncing back from what happened last year?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: It felt like home, to be fair. It felt like home, and didn't have any apprehension whatever. Just going out there, learning the car. The real question is going to be at the race start April 18 here in Barber, but for now, driving the car is good.

Q. Kind of piggy-backing off the last question, I know you've been doing a lot of sim work leading up to today's test at Barber, but how much of today as you mentioned was trying to find the proper setup for you and how much of it was trying to test the limits of what this car could do and what you can do within this car?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Well, I think there were a little bit of both. Every time you come testing you have to try to find your limit, which I did this morning in Turn 1. I wasn't quite happy with it, but it happened, and I actually understood something you could do in Formula 1 you maybe cannot do in INDYCAR, so actually that was kind of a good learning experience.

And then it's really learning about when you change to dampers or the bars or something, what does it actually do on the car, how does it affect the car, which part of the corner. Also getting to learn my engineer and him to learn me and what I'm talking about entry, which phase of the corner am I talking about and so on. So that's been our day, and it's been pretty good.

Q. You mentioned the incident in Turn 1. It sounded like it was a fairly simple spin that didn't cause too much damage. Can you kind of take us through a little bit -- I know most of us weren't there to see exactly what happened. It didn't sound like anything too major, but can you take us through what happened there?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, basically I just went too fast in. When I was on the brake I also picked up the throttle which you do in high speed, but because it's a mechanical diff it does open the diff when you do that, and therefore it makes the car lose, whereas in Formula 1 it would actually stabilize the car, so I would say it was a learning experience and then I didn't do it anymore, and it was better.

Q. I know we don't have any official times from today, but how competitive do you feel you were amongst that field and how competitive do you feel like you can be this year from your first test and what you learned today?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: I don't know. It's definitely super tight. There were a couple of very quick times at the front. For us, the last set of tires I didn't get anything out of it. Just didn't feel great for some reason and the sun was quite low, so the visibility went down.

But I think the set before -- middle of the afternoon we had a decent lap time, especially looking at a track condition maybe a bit hotter. But yeah, generally I think -- I don't know, it's difficult to say, but it's definitely super tight, and we need to keep working and I need to keep adapting my driving style and understand how to go fast in an INDYCAR because it's a bit different than a Formula 1 car.

Q. You had mentioned that you didn't want to talk too much about the comparison between an F1 car and an INDYCAR, but some of that is actually quite fascinating. I know you can't really compare the braking but I know the steering is a little bit different, as well, so could you go into a little bit more detail with that?

Grosjean was able to remain within one second of the times posted by the fastest drivers of the day who had experience driving this platform and the track before. Image Credit: Romain Grosjean's FB Page (2021)

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Well, I think Formula 1, if I'm being simplistic, Formula 1 only works as aerodynamics and the rest is just here to support the car. An INDYCAR works really with the setup and the aerodynamic is much simpler and much less downforce. So high-speed corners is a bit more fruity on an INDYCAR but the low-speed corners actually feel maybe better.

Q. And the physical nature of it all, I know you were saying at the beginning your arms are actually quite tired. Going back and having to reassess the physical side of things, do you know which portions you're going to have to work on yourself to get ready for the race?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, I think so. I think I've got some clear idea. I'm going to go back in the gym and make sure that the muscles are good. Sometimes you can do as much as you want in the gym. The real race, the real training is in the car. That's good that we did 80 laps today. It gets the proper driving muscles active. Obviously I wanted to do some shifter kart back home because I think shifter kart could be good training, but with my hand and core temperature I wasn't able to, but I think no, things are getting better and I think I can get on it and I think it's going to be actually very helpful for INDYCAR.

Q. You had said to me that you spoke to Marcus Ericsson about what you expect from the series and Marcus told you it was a really nice environment, that you would get along with the guys well. It looks like you've had interaction on social media with some other drivers. I'm wondering how the welcoming has gone and what drivers you have found to be friendly.

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Well, it's been great. It's been great, and yes, I think Marcus wasn't wrong, and I've had already some good interaction with Sebastien Bourdais. He was next to me so that was easy. Takuma Sato came over. I saw some of the other guys. Simon Pagenaud in the pit lane, he was driving and I gave him a wave and he gave it back. So I think generally it's been a great day in that respect, with Edward, my teammate. We have a good relationship, as well.

I told him I used to be an asshole as a teammate back in the days, but now I'm 35 and I'd like us to be friendly. On track you want to beat them, there's no doubt, but outside of the track I think if we can be friends it's mega.

Q. Is it a surprise to you to be in this sort of atmosphere?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: It's definitely very different from what I'm used to.

Q. And your engineer, how has that been going? I know that he worked with Bourdais a long time. I don't know if they put you guys together because you're both French, but how is that working?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: It's been good. We've been fairly busy and haven't really got much time to sit down and debrief, but on track and so on, it's been clear. We've done the testing. I guess now it's going to be a question of sitting down together, going through the data, working through it, what we're going to do.

It's always nice when your engineer speaks the same language as you. We do all the debriefs in English because we don't want to exclude anyone, but obviously when we are outside of the track and talking just the two of us, that's going to be French, and sometimes it's a bit easier to explain some of the feelings in your mother language.

Q. We talked about the extra physicality of the INDYCAR to drive without the power steering and we know your hands got quite badly burned in the accident at the time. Has there been any extra issues with that, with the extra physicality of driving the car on your hands as they continue to heat up?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Actually, no, it's been all right. I've got a big blister on the left hand, on one of the thumbs, but I didn't really feel it in the car. So I guess that was fine.

I think generally, no, that's been okay. Putting the gloves on and removing it is not always nice so I tend to keep my left glove on, protect it from the sun, as well, but generally it's been okay.

The aeroscreen removes some air that you get in the car so it gets quite warm, but the other tubes that you have with the helmet air system and also at the front of the cockpit works pretty well. So I think it's very physical. It is tough driving those cars, very much, in a different way than Formula 1 where the only thing you fight in Formula 1 is the G-forces where here you actually fight the heaviness of the car physically. But I don't mind it. It's quite cool.

Q. You mentioned the aeroscreen there. Obviously you were used to the halo in Formula 1. How did you find the aeroscreen on the INDYCAR?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Absolutely fine. If it wasn't for the air not coming through your helmet and your visor staying clean, you wouldn't notice. You wouldn't know it.

Q. As for the experience itself today, you were at Barber, which I always think is quite a European style track. Does that help you settle into the new car and the new environment compared to some of the tracks you're going to go to this season which are going to be very different?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, I think there's going to be some different tracks, but if you look at Mid-Ohio, Road America, Laguna, they're not dissimilar in a way to the tracks that I've known. The pavement may be a bit different with some patches on, but again, it gives character to the circuit. The street circuits, they're always different, and year to year they change. They're bumpy. I heard they're very bumpy. But well, let's see.

Q. And of course you're going to have the ovals to get used to, as well. What do you think when it comes to oval running?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: We'll see later. There could be a chance that I do get (indiscernible).

Q. In terms of the aeroscreen, how was the visibility for you today, and also how beneficial is it for you testing in Barber today and also Barber being the first race? Is that a beneficial kind of aspect for you to build on?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Well, the aeroscreen wasn't an issue at all and I completely forgot it was on, so that was good. Testing in Barber, obviously it's always good and we kind of come racing here. But I still feel like I've got some stuff to learn in the car to go faster, so that's what I'm going to be doing in the next few days before we go testing in Laguna Seca.

Q. How beneficial is it for you to have Ed with you?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Yeah, it's been good. I've been looking at data, and I'll keep doing that, keep understanding. I need to get used to also the PI system that we use to look at data, but I'm definitely going to work on that and make sure that I understand what it does different, where I'm faster and what I can do to improve myself.

Q. Going into the season you have a couple of drivers that are making the jump to INDYCAR. You have probably one of the top drivers from the Australian area and one of the top stock car drivers of all time with Jimmie Johnson. Has the mindset come across to you that this season could bring a lot more eyeballs, especially at a race with Barber being a complex road course?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Well, you know, I think it's mega to have Jimmie and Scott on board as well as all the other drivers. I think we've got a very strong field with a lot of experience from some of the guys, and a huge fan base from Scott and Jimmie. For everyone that loves motorsport, it's super cool to have that and to be able to watch that.

Q. I know it's only your first day in the INDYCAR, but have you been able to get an impression of the kind of driving that the Firestones would require and promote? Do they have any kind of characteristics to any tires you have raced with previously throughout your racing career?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: If I'm being honest I've been very pleasantly surprised with the Firestone. They've been great. No tar blanket going out of the pit. It does feel -- okay, it's a bit more slippery but there is grip, and you can actually push for a few laps and they stay quite consistent. I was doing good laps after 25, 26 laps on the tires and that's something that I couldn't do in my previous experience.

Generally I think I've been happy with them. Obviously we haven't used the red stickers on ones, so they may degrade a bit more, but definitely the primary tires were pretty good.

Q. When you say slippery, would you put that down to maybe it's still February and the temperatures are maybe cooler than when you'll generally go racing or is that more a condition of the tire?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: No, I think it's more condition of the tires because we got to 95 track temp, something like that, close to 100, which isn't bad. It's been actually a very sunny and cool day. Generally I think Firestone is a good product.

THE MODERATOR: Romain, you'll be at Laguna and that's a place you grew up playing video games; is that right?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: When I was young and beautiful.

THE MODERATOR: We want to thank you, Romain Grosjean, a full day of testing at Barber Motorsports Park in the book. A reminder the season opener for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES just 54 days away. They'll be back at beautiful Barber Motorsports Park April 18th for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Thank you all for joining us here tonight. Everyone have a great evening. Thank you.

[ht: FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports]

RESULTS Of 12 Car Test Session Day At Barber Motorsports Park >>>

The question The EDJE/Motorsports Journal had, but time would not allow was this:

Question: You mentioned the issue you had in turn one (always good to push the limits with a No Harm/No Foul result), was there a section on the track, a track that was described as the toughest track on the annual schedule, that grabbed your attention more than any other section? Why?

This track was built for bikes - FYI.

Continuing with the less is more theme - less wide track because of its original intent - less downforce than F1 design nets more adjustment and set up possibilities to gain an advantage - less fussy tires from Firestone given lack of heating blankets gave less grip at first but more consistent grip throughout longer runs - less competitive egos off of the track allow for greater relationships in the series - but never let this lull one asleep when the wars begin with the helmet on the head sitting between four open wheels. Those other wheels around you wish you were not in their way.

Your first real test will come on a track designed for motorcycles yet oddly suited as the toughest NTT INDYCAR SERIES challenge that all of the driver's love. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opener at Barber Motorsports Park is set for Sunday, April 18 - broadcast live on NBC Network.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne, Rick Ware, Dallara, Firestone, Honda, Barber Motorsports Park, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, #r8g, The EDJE