Considering the cold, misty conditions that impacted the last two days of Verizon IndyCar Series testing at Barber Motorsports Park, Justin Wilson reckons that when the series goes back there in late April for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, “probably half the things we think we learned will get thrown out the window.”
Nonetheless, Wilson did a solid job this afternoon and was second-quickest today in the No. 19 DCR Honda at just .0038 of a second behind Team Penske front-runner Will Power.
He said that he plans to take the result “with a pinch of salt,” but is still pleased at how he and a whole new cast of characters at DCR – led by new engineer Michael Cannon – are getting along ahead of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 30.
“We like the progress that we’ve made to the car and the work that the team is doing,” he said. “It’s a complete new set of guys, working with Michael Cannon, that just keeps getting better and better every time we run.
“The last two days have been all about gelling as a team, coming together more than anything else, so I think that helps us going into St. Pete.”
Wilson led the Honda contingent, which for the second day in a row split the Top 10 testing times with Chevrolet-powered drivers.
Among the other Honda drivers in the Top 10 were Takuma Sato (fourth, 1:07.3314), Ryan Hunter-Reay (seventh, 1:07.4495), James Hinchcliffe (eighth, 1:07.4639), and Simon Pagenaud (10th, 1:07.5235).
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Jack Hawksworth landing in the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport Honda may have been somewhat of a surprise, but the young British competitor has acquitted himself well as the fastest rookie in the Barber test.
Hawksworth posted the 12th-fastest time overall in the combined two-day run at 1:07.6542. He was also able to run 100 laps across the two days, gaining valuable track time as he prepares for his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in less than two weeks.
“We had a really solid couple of days,” Hawksworth said of his test. “The weather made it difficult because of a few stoppages, but it’s our first test together on a proper road course – Sebring’s more of a street circuit track – and I thought we worked through some really good stuff today.
“The BHA guys did a really great job and I’m pretty happy with where we’re at. We’ll make a couple of tweaks but I’ve not seen anything yet that worries me, so we’re in good shape.”
Another rookie, Andretti Autosport’s Carlos Munoz, ran the most laps of anyone during the Barber test with 121 laps in total. Overall, he was 16th-fastest in the No. 34 Cinsay/AndrettiTV.com Honda (1:07.9437), but the Colombian feels like the best is yet to come.
“I’m definitely more comfortable at this test than previous ones…I think we’ve made a lot of progress, and today was better than yesterday,” Munoz said. “Each time I get in the car is better than the last, so I’m just really looking forward to St. Pete.”
