KANAAN TOPS FIRST HALF-DAY OF OPEN TEST AT SEBRING

Andretti Green Racing drivers swept the top three spots during the first half day of an Open Test at Sebring International Raceway. Nine IndyCar Series drivers tested during the afternoon and will receive a full day of testing on March 4. Nine other drivers will test the afternoon of March 5 and all day on March 6.

Tony Kanaan turned the fastest lap on the circuit’s 1.7-mile, 11-turn course at 53.5174 seconds, 112.337 mph. Teammates Marco Andretti and Hideki Mutoh were second and third, respectively, while Danica Patrick was edged out of fourth late in the day by Rahal Letterman Racing’s Ryan Hunter-Reay.

A.J. Foyt IV, Jay Howard, Ed Carpenter and Marty Roth rounded out the time sheet. *** Sebring International Raceway is located on the former Hendricks Field, a United States Army Air Forces Combat Crew Training facility that was constructed in 1940. Pilots used Hendricks Field to train on B-17s throughout World War II.

The field was deactivated on Dec. 31, 1945 and given to the city of Sebring in 1946. The first race was staged at the facility in 1950. *** INDYCAR SERIES QUOTES:

TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Andretti Green Racing): “We’re testing a lot of things. We’re trying big, big things that we did some simulation over the winter and thought were better. Changing big things in the car, that takes an hour, sometimes two hours. This is the time to do it, because we won’t have time when we get to St. Pete. It’s the last two days, now it’s down to one day, before the season starts and before we go to St. Pete. I would say it’s going well.”

MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 26 Andretti Green Racing): “(Today was) not as great as we would like. We still have to work on gaining overall mechanical grip. However, we’re doing a true test. If we can find some mechanical grip and balance tomorrow, I think we’re going to be happy.” *** The 2008 IndyCar Series season begins under the lights with the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 on March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 2008 schedule, one of the most diverse in all of motorsports, features races on ovals, permanent road courses and temporary street circuits, all broadcast worldwide through a comprehensive, long-term agreement with ESPN. All races in 2008 will be telecast in High Definition. The 2008 Indy Pro Series season also begins on March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 16-race schedule, which features eight ovals and four road/street course doubleheader weekends, will be televised by ESPN2.