Silence is golden at Homestead-Miami
AP Photo/J Pat CarterGanassi's Dario Franchitti was fifth fastest on the combined speed charts at Homestead.The Indy cars were in action this week at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time in 2009, lacking some of the sound and fury associated with the series.
It wasn't a matter of the numbers being down -- the 21 cars present were the most to participate in an IndyCar Series open test since 2002.
What was missing was sheer noise, thanks to the mechanical silencer system fitted to all entries this year that cuts the exhaust note by nine decibels.
On pit lane and in the grandstands, people were able to maintain conversations, perhaps for the first time since 1997 when the Indy Racing League adopted a normally aspirated engine formula. The only individuals unhappy about the development were earplug vendors.
Aside from a couple of small exhaust outlet periscopes that are like pimples in comparison to all the aerodynamic appendages hanging off recent Formula One cars, the look of the IndyCar Dallara-Honda spec car is unchanged. More importantly, the cars' performance is intact, but in a more fan-friendly form.
Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon of Target/Ganassi Racing paced the two days of testing action on the 1.5-mile Homestead oval, which for the first time will host the IndyCar Series championship finale Oct. 10.
Briscoe lapped at 212.156 mph during the Wednesday night session to set the overall pace, while Dixon was at 211.825 mph. Dixon led the Tuesday night session with a 211.372 mph lap, with Briscoe second at 210.793 mph.
Almost 4,700 laps were run without incident.
"I'm really happy with the way our only preseason oval test went this week," said Briscoe, a two-time race winner in 2008. "We were able to work on a lot of different things, and I'm satisfied with what we were able to accomplish. I think that what we learned here at Homestead will help us on all the 1.5-mile ovals this season, starting with Kansas and moving forward.
"We're in great shape, and now we're one step closer to the beginning of the season."
Briscoe and Dixon each had new teammates during the two-day test. Dario Franchitti was fifth fastest in the combined speed chart for Ganassi, while Will Power was seventh fastest while making his debut for Team Penske. Helio Castroneves, who is preparing for the start of his tax-evasion trial Monday, was not present at Homestead.
Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan ran third and fourth overall for Andretti Green Racing, almost 2 mph faster than teammate Danica Patrick, who was 15th fastest at 209.333 mph.
"We never really worry about speed during a test like this," Kanaan said. "After five months of not driving it is really important just to get everybody back to work. It's mainly about getting the motions down and getting the team back together, and we found some good things in this test."
Mario Moraes provided the biggest surprise of the test sessions. The 20-year-old Brazilian, who managed only three top-10 finishes in his rookie IndyCar season, was sixth fastest in his first runs for KV Racing Technology.
"I felt very comfortable with the team, and it was fantastic to work with such an experienced group," Moraes said. "From the engineering to the preparation of the car to the pit stops, I could not have asked for anything more. I learned a lot and I am pleased with what we achieved."
Mike Conway was the fastest of four rookie drivers who participated in the test, running ninth quickest in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entry at 210.225 mph.
"I really got a feel as to what the car is doing and how it's reacting to each change," said Conway, a 25-year-old Englishman who has won some of the most prestigious street races in the world but is new to oval racing. "I've been learning how to run in different lines and how to react in traffic, and each day was another positive step. It's all about learning each time I go out -- learning about running with traffic, how the tires come in, just things with setup, like aero changes and mechanical changes."
Among other rookies, Robert Doornbos was seventh fastest Tuesday in his debut for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing before incorrect setup changes relegated him to 12th overall; Raphael Matos (Luczo-Dragon Racing) was 18th, and Stanton Barrett (Team 3G) brought up the rear.
Doornbos, a two-time race winner in the Champ Car World Series, said that perhaps the biggest adjustment to oval racing was having a spotter constantly talking in his ear.
"It looks like we have a lot of work to do as a team," the Dutchman said. "But I am very happy with the first three days of working with the engineers and all the mechanics, and I'm looking forward to the season very much."
John Oreovicz covers open-wheel racing for National Speed Sport News and ESPN.com.
