INDY LIGHTS: Dixon returns to Lights car for Dayton/Firestone test

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

(Justin, TX)--PacWest Champ Car driver, Scott Dixon made his first visit to Texas Motor Speedway to participate in a Dayton/Firestone test yesterday. Dixon, the 2000 Indy Lights Champion, was not in a Champ Car, but in the PacWest Indy Lights car to complete the test for Dayton/Firestone.

Dayton Tires, a division of Firestone, are in their fourth year as the official tire of the Indy Lights racing series, the final run in CART’s development ladder system. The test at TMS provided Firestone the opportunity to further their research and development of their tire performance on superspeedways.

Due to water on the track, the originally scheduled full-day test began mid-day. Dixon was the only driver on the 1.5-mile oval and completed approximately 200 laps. After each ten laps, Firestone removed the tires, cut them open and examined them. They continued throughout the day evaluating the tires on a ½ tank of gas and then a full tank of gas.

The test also provided Dixon the opportunity to run miles on a track he’s never been on, but in a car he’s familiar with. Dixon will return to the TMS oval on February 22 to test the PacWest Champ Car.

PacWest’s Indy Lights testing program will continue on February 22, at the Texas Motor Speedway road course.

SCOTT DIXON - #17 PACWEST CHAMP CAR

“We got off to a late start because of water on the track, but I managed to complete about 200 laps,” said Dixon. “Even though the car wasn’t as challenging as a Champ Car, it was a great experience for me. I’m fortunate to put miles on a track I’ve never been on before and look forward to getting back out there in the PacWest Champ Car on Thursday.”

PAUL (“ZIGGY”) HARCUS – PACWEST INDY LIGHTS TEAM MANAGER

“Scott did a great job today and I think he had a little fun out there in the Indy Lights car,” said Paul (Ziggy) Harcus, PacWest Indy Lights team manager. “We ran him 10 laps at a time and suggested he run about 160-170 mph. Scott got out there and we had to bring him in to tell him to slow down – he was running about 173 mph,” added Harcus. “He did great and it was a good experience for him to do miles on a track he’s never been on.”

Text Provided By Jodi Graffio

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