Comments on: Winter Testing In The Sunny South

By: Andrew Bernstein

Andrew Bernstein — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:46:33 +0000

Meira for Foyt, and Dario for Ganassi both tested IndyCars at MSR in Oct. 2008.

They have a series of local events scheduled on their website through he winter months. No clue as to why it isn’t on the radar.

By: Andrew Bernstein

Andrew Bernstein — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:33:38 +0000

USF1 has also announced testing in Feb at Barber, which I presume will have to precede the Feb 23 arrival of the IndyCars.

What’s wrong with MSR, near Houston? I believe I read that at least one IndyCar team had tested there before. Never been there myself.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:40:29 +0000

Barber is way, way to one grove for Indycars, or really even bikes! Mid Ohio, Montegi, Infenion, don’t we have enough one grove tracks?

By: tim nothhelfer

tim nothhelfer — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:51:13 +0000

I have attended at least one day of “Spring Training” at HMS for years. I was at the first day of the Daytona compatibility test with paddock passes from the IRL.
I look forward to seeing the teams for the tests, yet I’ll be content to see the teams running their best at the season finale.

By: Brian McKay

Brian McKay — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:07:10 +0000

I agree with you on both counts. And Homestead-Miami Speedway is close enough to Miami to draw curious fans, while Sebring isn’t near a population center. Sebring was closer to me when I resided near Tampa, so I was all too happy to dash over to Sebring back then…

By: Steve_P83

Steve_P83 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:54:43 +0000

I think tests like this should be conducted on a track that will not be raced during the season. Teams should get their setups during practice for the race, not two months early.

I voted for Homestead since it has the greatest chance of being sunny in Miami.

By: Edward

Edward — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:33:00 +0000

I chose “other” in the poll because I believe-and I can be completely wrong on this-that Sebring might be the only real place to test in the South in the winter as it is the only true road course that I know of there-although I believe-though can’t confirm-that there are other road courses in Florida.

I agree with what Scott Simmons wrote. IndyCar might have been seduced by the crowd at the Barber test last year and believe that they can draw a similar-if not larger one-for the upcoming test. Hopefully, they’ll have good weather for it. We’ll just have to wait and see.

By: Scott Simmons

Scott Simmons — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:13:12 +0000

I think they were seduced by the crowd at last year’s test more than anything. Now they get the chance to have both in one season. A packed test and a packed race!

Maybe.