Dario Franchitti: “I Think The Times Very Impressive, And I Think There’s More To Come”

Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti topped the speed chart at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during an IndyCar Series Open Test in preparation for the IndyCar Series debut at the facility on July 22.

Franchitti, who won the pole at the facility twice while racing in CART, lapped the 2.258-mile, 13-turn course in 1 minute, 7.6667 seconds, 120.130 mph in the No. 27 Canadian Club car.

Previous experience at the track also paid dividends for Helio Castroneves, a two-time winner at the track. Castroneves was second quick with a lap of 1:07.7671, 119.952 mph in the No. 3 Team Penske machine.

Franchitti’s Andretti Green Racing teammate, Marco Andretti, was third quick with a lap of 119.591 mph. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Buddy Rice was fourth and Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon was fifth.

Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon and Darren Manning completed the top 10.

Overall, 18 drivers combined to complete 978 laps. A light rain forced an end to the session approximately 20 minutes early.

POST-TEST NOTES AND QUOTES:

Did you know?: Built in 1926, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road circuit set in Lexington, Ohio, originally constructed for weekend sports car racing. The facility was purchased in 1981 by the late Jim Trueman, founder of the Red Roof Inns economy lodging chain. Under Trueman’s direction, the track underwent major renovations, including the addition of permanent grandstand seating and construction of garages. Today the facility is managed by Trueman’s daughter, Michelle Trueman Gajoch, who oversees the day-to-day operations.

Off-season renovations: During the 2006 off-season, Mid-Ohio underwent major capital improvements. The track and pit lane were completely resurfaced and connectors were added to the track’s famed Keyhole section to allow for three separate road course configurations. Also completed was the removal of concrete patches from the track, the relocation of the wall and guardrail at Turn 1, the expansion of gravel traps in the exits of Turn 1 and the Keyhole, the replacement of all remaining old-style catchfencing, and the standardization of curbing throughout the circuit.

NHRA’s Coughlin gets Indy Experience: It wasn’t the pin-you-to-the-back-of-your-seat ride that Jeg Coughlin Jr. is used to, but he’d gladly get behind the wheel of an IndyCar Series car.

The NHRA Pro Stock driver, who won the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals on June 10, was Stephan Gregoire’s passenger in an Indy Racing Experience two-seater that navigated the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course circuit during a break in IndyCar Series testing.

“I’ve been around the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course a few times in the school cars, but it was quite a different view riding behind a professional driver in this type of car. Next time, I wouldn’t mind being in the front seat. Even the speeds we reached in the two-seater car was very exciting. ”

A quarter-mile speed of 207.37 mph (6.658 seconds) in the finals at Route 66 Raceway provided Coughlin the 35th Pro Stock victory of his career (48th overall). He came away with a heightened appreciation for the physical stamina required of IndyCar Series drivers on the rolling Mid-Ohio course.

“Here you have the pitch from left to right, of course the back of your seat and then braking you’re moving forward a little, ” Coughlin said. “Going to the school, I knew the flow of the course so I was able to use my body English accordingly to get around the course too. I can only imagine under competition loads like they have here and the speed of the cars the demands on their bodies and their minds is quite intense.

“It made me more excited to try to get behind the wheel of an IndyCar one of these days. Obviously, in practice. ”

Carpenter, the fan, visits Colts: Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter, an Indianapolis Colts season ticket holder, recently visited the team’s practice facility to watch one of the summer schools sessions.

“I was a fan when they weren’t very good. It’s the second time I’ve had the opportunity to do that (2004 the other). Tony Dungy and his coaching staff is just a great group of people; it’s fun to be around them. I met (wide receivers coach) Clyde Christensen, who spoke at chapel before the Indianapolis 500 and is an awesome person. It was just fun to go as a fan and see some of the new players we got, form some opinions and scout a couple of people who I think are going to be good additions.

“Hopefully, it’s looking good for a (Super Bowl) repeat. ”

Mutoh ready for bonus test: Panther Racing will remain at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 14 for a bonus test with IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira and Indy Pro Series driver Hideki Mutoh.

“I’m really looking forward to it, ” said Mutoh, who ranks second in Indy Pro Series points after recording four-top five finishes in five starts. “The reason I came to America was to drive in the IndyCar Series, so this is a great opportunity. It was good to test here in the Indy Pro Series car (June 12) to learn the lines of the track a bit. ”

DARIO FRANCHITTI (No. 27 Canadian Club, quickest): “I certainly don’t think it hurt us to come here today and know what the track was like. The new surface was a worry coming into this test, because I hadn’t driven here, but it was no problem at all. It’s just smoother, good grip levels, so that was really nice. I’m glad of the experience, because we missed the whole morning because of technical problems. The day started badly but ended very well. I think the times very impressive, and I think there’s more to come.

“I can remember from five years ago pretty much what it felt like in every corner, so it wasn’t a big stretch to go out there and do it again, feel the car for a couple of laps and then get out there and go. ”