Indy Lights has organised pre-season tests in the Homestead-Miami oval track, which held IndyCar and CART events between 1996 and 2010. Andretti Autosport’s young driver Ryan Norman completed the best lap and was the first driver to reach a 187 lap.
The 2018 Indy Lights season is about to begin, however, since many drivers have no confirmed drivers yet, only six drivers have participated in yesterday’s testing session in Miami. Andretti Autosport lined-up his four drivers, Dalton Kellett, Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta and Ryan Norman; while Juncos brought Alfonso Celis Jr. and Pro Mazda reigning champion Victor Franzoni.
During the last hour of testing, all four Andrettis went on track and completed several laps together, using the drafts of their team mates to set the best times. Thanks to that, they ended the day in the top four spots. Norman was on top with a 187.170, followed by Kellett, who was the busiest driver, completing 87 laps during the day. O’Ward was third and Herta fourth. Both Juncos set quite slower times and did less laps. Franzoni finished fifth ahead of Celis. The session happened with no incidents.
“I think so,” said Norman when asked if leading a testing session was meaningful. “I think it’s an overall confidence booster. At the end of the day, it’s a lot different than (leading at) a road course. But, with the hard work that we’ve put in over the offseason, I think I’ve shrunk that gap from last year a lot, so I think I’ll be a lot more competitive than last year, and we should be able to challenge for wins.”
The 2018 Indy Lights season will begin the 10th of March in St. Petersburg street circuit, on the same venue and weekend on which IndyCar Series will kick-off. The track on which testing was held is not part of the season calendar.