Dan Wheldon and his National Guard Panther team had an impressive first day of practice Friday on the Streets of St. Petersburg, but saw the final practice of the day conclude courtesy of the team’s former driver. The day ended with the No.4 team in the 19th position on the final speed chart for the day, but with a fast racecar and high expectations for tomorrow’s qualifications.
Wheldon was amongst the quickest drivers in the morning session, concluding the hour-and-a-half long session with the fifth overall time at 99.710 mph, 1:04.9190 seconds. He looked to repeat that effort in the second session of the day, and again had the fifth fastest speed as he finished his first run of the final practice.
After a caution period, the track returned to green and Wheldon launched from his pit box at the same time as the driver of the No.14 car, who was pitted directly behind Panther. As Wheldon moved into the fast lane he was struck in the left-rear tire, causing minor suspension damage to the Panther Dallara.
There will be one practice session Saturday morning before IndyCar Series qualifications.
Dan Wheldon, No.4 National Guard Dallara Honda
“It was a really promising day, we were fifth quickest in the morning and when we came into the pits before the little incident we were fifth. So the preparation we’ve done over the winter has really seemed to help, it’s been a long winter and there has been a lot of work and everybody at the Panther race shop has done a good job. Obviously, it’s very exciting when the National Guard car is running this fast. It was a shame the day ended early because I think it would have just got better and better.
(On the contact with the driver of the No. 14 car on Pit Road):
“Honestly I don’t know what happened, I was just going out of the pits. Obviously, it’s just a practice day, so no one’s going crazy. I just felt a bump from behind and it broke the suspension. It’s just one of those things.”
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