IRL IndyCar Test in the West Race Report

February 9, 2003 — Torrance, Calif.

IRL IndyCar "Test in the West"		Practice Report
Circuit:		Phoenix International Raceway (1.0-mile oval) Avondale, AZ
Weather:		Clear, mild, 61-degrees F
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Combined Practice Report:
Ps. Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Lap Time	Average Speed
1. Tony Kanaan	Andretti Green Racing	Honda	20.364	176.783 mph
2. Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Toyota	20.426	176.245 mph
3. Gil de Ferran	Team Penske	Toyota	20.448	176.053 mph
4. Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Toyota	20.465	175.907 mph
5. Kenny Brack	Team Rahal	Honda	20.496	175.641 mph
6. Felipe Giaffone	Mo Nunn Racing	Toyota	20.523	175.408 mph
7. Tomas Scheckter	Chip Ganassi Racing	Toyota	20.577	174.954 mph
8. Dario Franchitti	Andretti Green Racing	Honda	20.646	174.362 mph
9. Scott Sharp	Kelley Racing	Toyota	20.647	174.354 mph
10. Michael Andretti	Andretti Green Racing	Honda	20.678	174.094 mph
11. Roger Yasukawa	Super Aguri Fernandez	Honda	20.711	173.819 mph
12. Sam Hornish	Panther Racing	Chevrolet	20.751	173.484 mph

Kanaan Takes Top Honors at "Test in the West"

Tony Kanaan leapt to the top of the speed charts as the 2003 IRL "Test in the West" concluded Saturday with a pair of practice sessions here at Phoenix International Raceway. The veteran Brazilian piloted his Andretti Green Racing Honda around the one-mile desert oval at an average speed of 176.783 mph and was just over a half mile an hour clear of the field at the end of two days of testing.

Team Rahal's Kenny Brack, who made his IRL debut here in 1997, was next up for Honda. After running second quickest Friday, the Swede focused on race setup work today and ended the test fifth quickest.

The remaining Andretti Green Racing entries of Dario Franchitti and Michael Andretti ran eighth and 10th overall, both unable to better the times they set during Friday's sessions. But Roger Yasukawa improved significantly, jumping into the top ten today, and 11th overall.

Today's action was the final preview for the 16-race IRL IndyCar Series season, which gets underway March 1-3 at Homestead- Miami Speedway in Florida.

Tony Kanaan (#11 Team 7-Eleven Andretti Green Racing Honda): fastest today and overall: "We have a really good car in both qualifying and race trim, and I'm very happy with the way everything went today. Michael [Andretti] began working with me and I can say that it really helped. Team 7-Eleven is a great team, they put a great car together for me. I think that working with my engineer Eric [Cowdin], over all these years & #91;Cowdin and Kanaan spent five years together] also helps speed things up a bit. It's been a very good day."

Kenny Brack (#15 Miller Lite/Pioneer Team Rahal Honda) 5th fastest today and overall: "We were changing many things today, after a good day on Friday. I think we found a lot of combinations for the race. The Honda engine really felt strong today, so handling was the primary thing for us. Phoenix is one of the hardest tracks to set up for since it has two completely different corners. You want to be flat out through Turns Three and Four and then in one and two you have to be precise, yet delicate. I'm really pleased with how Team Rahal is working together."