The haves and the have-nots of the IndyCar Series shared the track at Watkins Glen International on Tuesday.
Highly funded and high-powered Andretti Green Racing tested at the Schuyler County facility along with smaller teams and their lesser-known drivers.
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Dreyer & Reinbold brought in two drivers for testing, Milka Duno and rookie Mike Conway. They’re quite a bit farther down in the points race at 26th and 20th, respectively.
Still, they’re ahead of Richard Antinucci, who will be making his IndyCar debut in the fifth annual Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen on July 5. He tested on Tuesday for Team 3G, which had originally had Stanton Barrett behind the wheel before announcing Monday that Antinucci will drive the No. 98 car.
Kanaan, Patrick and Andretti, along with fourth driver Hideki Mutoh, will try to get Andretti Green its first IndyCar win at Watkins Glen.
“This is a tough track, even when you’re 100 percent,” said Kanaan, who in his four tries here has finished second, 11th, fourth and third.
While Patrick, Kanaan and Andretti have a combined eight top-five finishes, Duno and Conway have yet to place in the top 15 of any 2009 event. It’s not that they aren’t trying.
Duno is coming off a mishap last week at Texas that knocked her out of the race before she could complete her second lap. Graham Rahal lost control of his car and hit Duno and E. J. Viso.
“I had a good car for the race,” she said. “I had good practices. It’s sad a driver hits you and puts you off the track.”
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Team 3G is hoping Antinucci can carry over his past success at Watkins Glen. Born in Italy and now living in San Diego, Antinucci won last year’s Firestone Indy Lights race here and finished second in the event the year before.
“There’s pressure to do well, but that can be the case whether it’s an exam or a meeting” he said. “This is a great chance for me.”
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