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IRL: Jonsson, Fisher pass Indy Racing rookie tests at Las Vegas

2 September 1999

LAS VEGAS- Niclas Jonsson is set to make his Indy Racing debut this month while Sarah Fisher will continue to accumulate seat time after both passed their Indy Racing League rookie driving test Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Jonsson, 32, from Sweden, plans to make his debut with the new Blueprint Racing Enterprises team at the Vegas.com 500 on Sept. 26 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after completing all four phases of the test on the 1.5-mile oval. Drivers must turn 10 laps in each phase, at speeds ranging from 180 mph in the first phase to more than 195 in the final phase.

Jonsson, two-time runner-up in the European Formula 3 championship, completed more than 350 miles during his rookie test and practice laps Tuesday and Wednesday.

Fisher, 18, from Commercial Point, Ohio, completed all four phases of the test in the PetroMoly-Team Pelfrey Dallara/Aurora/Firestone that Robby U nser normally drives in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League. Fisher completed more than 105 laps Wednesday after Unser helped shake down the car in practice laps Tuesday.

She will not enter the Vegas.com 500, instead concentrating on getting more experience through testing with Team Pelfrey later this month and in October at Texas Motor Speedway, site of the season-ending Lone Star 500 on Oct. 17.

"Sarah was very impressive today," said three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, who observed Fisher's test as part of his duties with the Indy Racing League. "She was totally professional, listened well and gave great feedback on what the car was doing on the track."

Fisher has won five midget features this year on Midwestern asphalt tracks. She qualified second fastest for the USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget feature last Sunday at Pikes Peak International Raceway but retired early with engine problems.

There was plenty of Indy Racing activity at LVMS besides Jonsson and Fisher's rookie tests.

Rookie Jon Herb turned laps in the #22 Technique Inc.-Tri Star Motorsports Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear normally driven by fellow Pep Boys Indy Racing League rookie Ronnie Johncox, who turned laps Tuesday to help acclimate Herb to the car.

Veterans Eliseo Salazar and Tyce Carlson tested in their Nienhouse Motorsports and Hubbard-Immke Racing cars, respectively. Veteran John Paul Jr. turned laps in a car owned by PDM Racing.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.