Normally, I’d dissect the Open Test participant list when they came out, but I had to put the finishing touches on an article for FoxSports.com. We’re now one day away from the test, which takes place from tomorrow through Friday at Barber Motorsports Park down in Alabama, and it appears that we’ll have 21 cars on the IndyCar side of things. Panther Racing and driver Dan Wheldon have opted to test at Sebring, Florida instead, while FAZZT Race Team and driver Alex Tagliani will also be a no-show.
Both teams are citing weather concerns as the cause for their decisions. Snow is expected in Birmingham for tomorrow, the first of two test days for the IndyCars. The Firestone Indy Lights competitors will test on Friday.
“Given the inclement weather forecast for Barber over the next few days and after much discussion, we believe the best use of our time is to continue our preparations for Brazil here in Indianapolis,”said FAZZT team manager Rob Edwards, referring to the IZOD IndyCar Series season opener on March 14 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
As for the list of cars slated to test (minus those of Wheldon and Tagliani), three of them are listed with Mr. TBA as the drivers. A third KV Racing Technology entry, the No. 32, is one, and Conquest Racing (No. 34) and HVM Racing (No. 78) are also expected to bring one car each to Barber.
Rumblings are that English pilot James Rossiter, a veteran of multiple European feeder leagues and a former development driver for Honda’s Formula One program, could be testing that third KV ride. He drove for Andretti Green Racing (now Andretti Autosport) in the American Le Mans Series back in 2008, and as recently as last month, he was rumored as a possible driver for the fledgling USF1 team.
As for Conquest, I haven’t heard much from them beyond Bruno Junqueira and Jan Heylen’s appearance with owner Eric Bachelart at the league’s winter meeting, so maybe that’s a clue as to who may test for them this week. Meanwhile, HVM’s car number, 78, could have been taken as a tip-off that Simona de Silvestro would work with them again. However, de Silvestro’s future in IndyCar appears to have gotten murkier as her sponsor has gone bankrupt (props to Open Paddock for the catch).
I’m thinking that today will see some more news on who’s testing what this week in Alabama, so let’s just stay tuned on this…
