INDY LIGHTS: PacWest Lights Wheldon Quick in Florida

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

(Sebring, FL) --PacWest Lights rookie Dan Wheldon tested for the second consecutive day on February 13, at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. Wheldon and his #1 PacWest Indy Lights crew are working diligently to prepare for the 2001 season in which PacWest will be in the favorable position of defending their Dayton Indy lights Championship. Wheldon, the promising young Brit, posted an impressive time of 57.8 seconds on the 1.6-mile road course - improving his time from yesterday of 58.1 seconds.

While PacWest has yet to name a teammate for Wheldon, 1999 British F3 champion Mark Hynes has been invited to test the second PacWest lights car again next week in Texas. Hynes, who joined Wheldon for Monday’s test session and posted a quick time of 58.2 seconds, did not participate on the final day of the test yesterday.

PacWest’s Indy Lights testing program will continue on February 20, at the Texas Motor Speedway.

DAN WHELDON - # 1 PACWEST LIGHTS

“We had a very productive test and I’m feeling very confident about the car and our outlook for the 2001 season,” said Wheldon. “I’m becoming more comfortable with my engineer, Steve Erickson. It seemed like forever between test dates, but now that I’m back in my driving mode I’m fired-up to get back on the track. Needless to say, I’m definitely looking forward to our test next week at Texas.”

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

“We had a good and successful day of testing,” said Harcus. “Dan’s confidence is building and I’m please with his progress. We worked a lot with the shocks and brakes and I feel confident we’re headed in the right direction. We will continuing preparing for our test at Texas next week.”

Text Provided By Jodi Graffio

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