IRL test at Daytona

Tony Kanaan and Helio Castrnoves were the fastest drivers in the first day of a two-day test at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday. There were 17 drivers and teams that participated in the test.
Kanaan, a driver for Andretti Green Racing, turned the fastest lap of the day in the afternoon session at 135.549 mph on the 2.72-mile road course.
“The name says everything,� Kanaan said. “I walked into this place in September, it was my first time ever here, and I was pretty impressed. Again, last night when I walked in again, it always gives you that.�
Castroneves, a driver for Team Penske, was the fastest driver in the morning session at 133.542 mph.
Other notes: All the IndyCar teams are using ethanol fuel in their 3.5-liter Honda V-8 engines during the two-day test. The IndyCar series is the first in motorsports to use ethanol fuel in all of its cars.
A number of IRL drivers raced in the 24 at Daytona endurace event over the weekend. They are Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon, Castroneves, Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Sharp, Buddy Rice, Darren Manning, Ed Carpenter and Tomas Scheckte
“No question that it’s a challenging place – especially when you are coming from a 24 hour,� Castroneves said. “To make the change from the DP (Daytona Prototype) car to the Indy car – it’s a big change. You can ask anyone that did the 24. It’s kind of a relearning.
“The only time I ran here is with the DP cars, so for me to find the braking points and the turning and everything in an Indy car, and all of the sudden becoming three times faster than I am used to. Again, after two laps I got used to it and back to the same rhythm.�
Testing continues: IndyCar Series testing continues today.
Wednesday morning speeds:
1. Helio Castroneves, 133.542 mph
2. Tony Kanaan, 132.473
3. Scott Dixon, 132.417
4. Sam Hornish Jr., 132.387
5. Dan Wheldon, 132.144
6. Dario Franchitti, 131.756
7. Marco Andretti, 130.565
8. Vitor Meira, 130.474
9. Jeff Simmons, 129.785
10. Scott Sharp, 128.495
11. Darren Manning, 128.457
12. Ed Carpenter, 126.390
13. Buddy Rice, 125.570
14. A.J. Foyt IV, 120.527
15. Kosuke Matsuura, 117.223
16. Danica Patrick, 79.400
Wednesday afternoon speeds
1. Tony Kanaan, 135.549 mph
2. Helio Castroneves, 135.313
3. Dan Wheldon, 135.226
4. Dario Franchitti, 135.134
5. Sam Hornish Jr., 135.056
6. Scott Dixon, 134.438
7. Vitor Meira, 134.149
8. Scott Sharp, 133.118
9. Kosuke Matsuura, 133.006
10. Marco Andretti, 132.756
11. Jeff Simmons, 132.393
12. Darren Manning, 131.854
13. Tomas Scheckter, 131.827
14. Danica Patrick, 131.439
15. Buddy Rice, 131.314
16. Ed Carpenter, 129.532
17. AJ Foyt IV, 127.984