Will Power Tops Second Day of INDYCAR

Will Power

J. Jacobson

Team Penske’s Will Power posted the top time on Sunday, as six IZOD IndyCar® Series drivers completed a two-day pre-season test at Infineon Raceway. Veteran Formula One racer Rubens Barrichello also took part in the test session.

Power posted a lap of 1 minute, 16.98 seconds over the 12-turn, 2.303-mile road course. The time is just a half-second slower than Dario Franchitti’s outright series lap record at Infineon Raceway, set in 2010.

Power was followed by teammate Ryan Briscoe (1:17.02), who was fastest on Saturday; EJ Viso (KV Racing Technology, 1:17.36); Rubens Barrichello (1:17.88); Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport, 1:17.89); and Tony Kanaan (KV Racing Technology, 1:17.91).

“It’s still the early days for this car as far as development goes, but we’re already knocking on the door of being quicker than our pole time from last year," said Power, the two-time defending Sonoma champion. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and good racing around here."

Sausalito’s JR Hildebrand also participated in the two-day test session (1:17.97, Panther Racing). Hildebrand got his start at the then-Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, which is based at Infineon Raceway.

“I think all of us right now are just generally trying to sort things out," said Hildebrand. “There are a ton of things that are new on the car from the chassis standpoint, the engine standpoint, brakes and we’re trying to creep up on those things and figure them out."