Mann, Plowman conduct first test with Panther

Panther Racing's recently-announced tandem of Pippa Mann and Martin Plowman got their first chance to put a Firestone Indy Lights car through its paces during a two-day test Oct. 8-9 at Sebring International Raceway.

"I enjoyed these two days of testing from the get go," said Plowman, 20. "We started with the setup that the previous Panther drivers used here at Sebring and gradually fine tuned it to my driving style."

Mann, 24, who is slated to become the first female driver in Panther's history to start a race, agreed with her teammate.

"I was very pleased with the whole operation," Pippa said of her crew. "The Panther team really impressed me with the professionalism and how they made me feel comfortable in the car."

The Firestone Indy Lights team took to the track a day prior to Panther's No. 4 Delphi National Guard team, which utilized half a day Oct. 9 and all of Oct. 10 as a warm-up for new driver Dan Wheldon, who is set to make his official return to the team at Surfers Paradise, Australia on Oct. 26. Firestone Indy Lights veteran Bobby Wilson also tested Panther's Honda-powered Dallara.

"Everything was very positive, both for the drivers and the crew," team co-owner John Barnes said. "This is part of the reason we felt it was important to get our drivers signed early – we want to be fully prepared and ready to win another championship when the 2009 season begins."