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The IndyCar Series just took to the track for what is the first evening of a two evening test down here at Homestead Miami Speedway.  Teams were anxious to get on track after setting the cars up over the past two days and the drivers were sure to hurry back to the garage after the drivers meeting.   Scott Dixon for the first two hours of testing has been the fastest turning in a lap at 211.024 mph.  Ryan Briscoe has been jumping between the #6 and Will Power’s #3.  The majority of the drivers are in the 207-208 mile range.  With this just being the first hour of 12 hours of testing over the next two days, I expect the speeds to pick up and the new teams and drivers to start adjusting and settling in a groove.  One thing I have noticed is that we have an abundant amount of red cars this year.  Perhaps the other teams think Target Chip Ganassi and Penske (technically orange) luck and skill with rub off.  Milka Duno is testing tonight but it has been reported that her deal with Newman Haas Lanigan Racing has not been finalized yet.  The same goes for Justin Wilson at Dale Coyne Racing.  You can follow the live timing and scoring and watch a live video feed from Homestead Miami Speedway by clicking on the links below.

IndyCar live timing and scoring

Live Homestead Miami Speedway video stream

Good Morning from Homestead Miami Speedway where we are on day 2 of open testing.  The rookies and veterans of the Firestone Indy Lights took to the track at 9 a.m. and are scheduled to run up until 3:45 p.m.  Then it will be time for the IndyCars to take to the 1.5 mile oval.  Rookie Pippa Mann is continuing to show she has what it takes to run in the Firestone Indy Lights She is currently running the second fastest speed of the day behind Ali Jackson  of Guthrie Mayer Racing.  Bruno Junqueira might make a surprise visit at Dale Coyne driving at tonights IndyCar open test.  Members of Dale Coyne Racing could not confirm at this time.  The IndyCar teams are hard at work preparing the cars to run at tonights test.  They will join Robert Doornbos, Mike Conway, Raphael Matos, and Stanton Barrett who tested late into the evening last night.  Check back to IRLblog.com during the course of the day for more updates from Homestead.

photo: Stanton Barrett getting ready to head out onto the track

It has definitely been an interesting day at Homestead Miami Speedway.  As you saw in my previous postings.  Pippa Mann was the fastest rookie on the track during the Firestone Indy Lights session.  There has also been speculation amongst the blog community that Milka will not be testing Tuesday and Wednesday night.  I had the oppurtunity to talk to Milka Duno and she stated to me that she will be behind the wheel tommorrow and Wednesday night.  The Vs. livery car prepped by Vision Racing will not be running.   According to our fellow open wheel blogger furious wedge, the Vs. car will be used during a promo video shoot for the Versus network and will be piloted by AJ Foyt IV.  Stanton Barrett started his transition into an open wheel car this evening with the IRL giving the rookie oval drivers some seat time.  Although slow out the gate, team owner Steve Sudler has assured me that the team is very optimistic and positive that they will catch up with rest of field over the course of the 2009 season.

The IndyCar garages are beginning to come to life with the ballet of hauler parking as well as the unloading of cars and equipment.  The majority of the teams are still missing most of their crew and they are expected to be coming into south Florida late this evening.   The only crew that appears to be fully staffed at the moment is Target Chip Ganassi Racing. They are already hard at work at setting up the #9 of Scott Dixon and #10 of Dario Franchitti.  Robert Doornbos is already making his presence known in the garage area even though he is not present himself. (picture above)  Most of the garage and pit stall areas are already set up with equiptment.  Newman Haas Lanigan Racing has brought three haulers.  The 06 McDonalds sponsored car of Graham Rahal is already unloaded and in its designated garage space.  Members of N/H/L have confirmed to me that Milka Duno will be driving at the IndyCar open test scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday evening. Vision Racing was seen hard at work on a car with Versus logos on it. This car has no number so I don’t see Vs. network being a potential car sponsor. As diligently as the crew was working on it, you would think that it was being prepped for testing. 

photo: AP

Next week the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy lights return to Homestead Miami Speedway for open testing.  The Firestone Indy lights will run Monday and Tuesday during the day with the IndyCar Series running from the late afternoon into the early night Tuesday and Wednesday.  This test usually preceeds the season opener in Miami, but this year Miami will crown the 2009 IndyCar Series Champion on October 10 under the lights.  IRLblog will be on site covering the test sessions.

The testing schedule for Homestead is as follows:

Monday February 23

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Firestone Indy lights rookies

Tuesday February 24

9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. — Firestone Indy lights

4 p.m. – 10 p.m. — IndyCar Series

Wednesday February 25

4 p.m. – 10 p.m. — IndyCar Series

For a complete entrant list you can click below
Firestone Indy lights participant list
IndyCar Series participant list

This test is open to the public and is free of charge to attend.  Viewing is from the club level seats of the grandstands only and free popcorn and hotdogs will be served.