BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – He stood next to his race car, bouncing up and down with nervous energy. He only stopped to exchange handshakes and pleasantries with nearly everyone who saw him on pit road. He walked over to Tony Kanaan and had a brief chat.
Then it was time to put on his helmet and strap into the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet.
Helio Castroneves was back as a Verizon IndyCar Series driver, if only for the day.
BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK OPEN TEST: Practice 1 results; Practice 2 results; Combined practice results
The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner was with Team Penske for an open test at Barber Motorsports Park today as he prepares to compete in the INDYCAR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 12.
“It’s awesome,” said Castroneves, who is racing full time for Team Penske’s sports car program this season. “I’m so thankful to Roger (Penske) for letting me have this test to learn about the new car. The new car is really edgy on entry to the corners, but at the end of day, it’s faster, which makes it fun. Now I’m starting to sort it out and understand the tires but the whole scenario.”
The one-day test on the 2.3-mile permanent road course was Castroneves’ first chance to drive the 2018 Indy car, which with its new universal aero kit acts very differently from the car he last drove at Sonoma Raceway in September. The rust didn’t show as the Brazilian posted the third-fastest lap of the morning session at 1 minute, 8.3155 seconds (121.022 mph).
Team Penske dominated the day that was abbreviated by strong winds, cool temperatures and rain in the afternoon. Josef Newgarden, the defending Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama race winner and reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion, was fastest for the day with a lap of 1:07.9793 (121.802 mph) in the No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet. Will Power was second in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet (1:08.1536, 121.490 mph).
All 24 drivers on hand turned laps in the morning. Only Castroneves ran in the light rain in the afternoon for a paltry eight laps. While he loved the return to Barber, the day was bittersweet for the winner of the inaugural race at the track in 2010. The 42-year-old won’t be competing in the race on April 27, focusing instead on the INDYCAR Grand Prix and 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May.
“It’s hard to come here and know that when the team comes back you won’t be racing,” said Castroneves. “I accepted the challenge of this new chapter in my life, but it’s great to get familiar with the car before the Indy 500. That’s the big one.”
Power, Castroneves’ teammate since 2009, welcomed the return of his friend to the team drivers’ lounge.
“He has the same sense of humor as me,” Power said. “He and I always team up and give the other guys trouble. I forgot how much fun it is having Helio in the room. Can’t wait for him to be around for the month of May.”
Seat time is vital for Castroneves, who will also participate in a March 27 open test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in preparation for his two-race May schedule. He must become familiar with the lower amount of downforce created by the new car and the effect on how it drives.
“It’s big-time (different),” Castroneves said. “In some of the corners you feel the rear (of the car) moving around. My first impression was, ‘Whoa, this is going to be tough.’ But as you get comfortable, you start to make changes.
“I forgot how a small change in an Indy car is a big change on the racetrack. In sports cars, the change isn’t so big. Also, the sports car has traction control, which this car doesn’t, so you have to take it easy. There are still a few details that I have to work out, but muscle memory kicks in and we’re getting there.”
The only incident of significance occurred when rookie Matheus “Matt” Leist went off track in the No. 4 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. Leist was not injured.
“I was just doing a new tire run and then I got a little bit of grass in Turn 1 when I was about to brake and just lost the rear and hit the (tire) barrier, but I’m fine,” Leist said.
The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix at ISM Raceway on Saturday, April 7 (9 p.m. ET). It will air live on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network, as will the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 27 (3 p.m.).
The INDYCAR Grand Prix on May 12 (3:30 p.m.) and the 102nd Indianapolis 500 (11 a.m.) both air live on ABC and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.
