Chilton tops rain shortened Laguna IndyCar test

Max Chilton quickest

Alexander Rossi has many fond memories of Indy car racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, even though he’s never raced an Indy car at the famed road course.

“A lot of people think Sonoma is my home track, but it really is here," said Rossi, who admitted feeling emotional when walking around the track on Feb. 7.

“My dad brought me here for the first time when I was 3 and even though I don’t remember that race, it was a father-son thing we did until I was 11 before I transitioned to go-karts because of being here and loving the racing here."

Rossi joined 20 other NTT IndyCar Series drivers (23 were scheduled but AJ Foyt Racing chose to sit out due to forecasted weather) for a one-day test at the 2.238-mile circuit on Feb. 8, which served as an unofficial kickoff to the 2019 season.

Alexander Rossi 5th quick

But Rossi wasn’t the only driver with pleasant memories at the track, which will host the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in September.

“A fantastic circuit," five-time NTT IndyCar Series champ Scott Dixon said. “I’ve thought that since I first came here in 1999. It’s been a great reception and there’s a lot of people out here today."

Carlin’s Max Chilton raced in the U.S. for the first time at WeatherTech Raceway in what was the Star Mazda championship in 2007 and won double poles for Indy Lights races in 2015. That history help make it one of the Englishman’s favorites tracks.

“I really love this track," he said. “I feel comfortable here, but the guys have worked incredibly hard all winter. I haven’t been in the car in five months, but they still developed the car. This is our first test and obviously the work has paid off. It was only one morning, but it is a good sign."

In 2007 The Champ Cars were 6-seconds per lap faster than today's IndyCars

The morning, though, was the only activity of the day as rain cut short the day during the one-hour lunch break. Still it gives Chilton and the second-year Carlin squad confidence heading into the NTT IndyCar Series’ official Open Test at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas next week."

“We planned for (rain), so we took a chance and used all of our tires up," said Chilton, who said his No. 59 Gallagher Chevrolet was among the fastest drivers at the test.

“I think we’ve learned a lot and are really feel comfortable for when we come back in September. Hopefully we can continue this in to Austin and then Sebring (for a test) and then the opener in St. Petersburg."

“We were lucky to get as much time in as we did," observes Graham Rahal, driver of the number 15 Honda from the Rahal Letterman Lanigan stable. “Everybody is excited to be back."

Friday’s laps marked the first appearance of America’s top open wheel racing series at Laguna Seca in 15 years. The event—technically a private test session—drew hundreds of spectators who braved the threat of rain, which held off until late into a scheduled lunch break for the crews.

Rosenqvist 2nd quick

“I’m happy we got some running in," says Felix Rosenqvist, an IndyCar rookie with Chip Ganassi Racing. Although he adds that the cool temperatures affected grip levels, overall the test went well.

For first timers to the track, that meant an encounter with The Corkscrew. And the twisting, plunging corner impressed the newcomers.

"It’s a lot like a roller coaster," observes Marcus Ericsson of Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, who came to IndyCar after a stint in Formula One. “The track is very challenging."

“It looked scarier when I walked it," Rosenqvist adds. “But it’s a corner like no other."

“My dad dominated here—before I was born," Rahal says with a laugh, joking that he’s not so sure about Bobby Rahal’s career afterward.

The test session attracted another famous name. Danny Sullivan, who earned the 1988 points title by winning at Laguna Seca and is known for the “spin and win" at the 1985 Indy 500, dropped by to chat with the teams.

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am," he says of IndyCar’s return. “It makes you want to get out and drive—although that’s a fantasy."

Graham Rahal

Asked if he had advice for the young drivers, he scoffed. “They’ve all probably done thousands of miles around here in simulators or video games."

Which is how Rosenqvist first learned the track. Did it measure up?

“It was better," the rookie from Sweden says with a broad grin.

Although familiar with Laguna Seca, Bourdais explains that getting reacquainted—or introduced for the first time—is important. He says the variety of corners and the steep elevation changes give drivers a lot to handle, which is one of the reasons they appreciate the the track.

“It’s a really tricky place," he says. “There are a lot of blind corners."

Will Power suffered an apparent engine failure, but he was still able to complete 18 laps before rain moved in and brought proceedings to an end after the lunch break.

IndyCar Lap Record: Sebastien Bourdais 1m05.880s (March 10, 2007 in a Panoz DP01 Ford Cosworth Champ Car….underscoring how anemic the current cars are)

Friday Test Results