The recent private IndyCar team test at Sebring International Raceway provided nearly all teams except Prema Racing the opportunity to prepare ahead of the upcoming season opener. Known for its rough surface, Sebring offers conditions that closely mimic street circuits like St. Petersburg, making it an ideal location for evaluating car setups and driver performance before the season begins.
Session Highlights and Fastest Drivers
The testing was organized into two groups, splitting sessions between morning and afternoon. Chip Ganassi Racing‘s Alex Palou, a four-time series champion, dominated Monday morning’s track time with a fast lap of 52.626 seconds. Later that day, Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing led the afternoon session, posting a 52.847-second lap.
Armstrong improved further on Tuesday morning, recording the quickest overall time during the two-day test with a 52.373-second lap. Kyle Kirkwood stood out as well, setting the best time among Andretti Global’s drivers with a 52.479-second effort on Tuesday.
Impressive Performance by Rookie McElrea
Among the four rookies testing, Ed Carpenter Racing’s McElrea impressed by posting the fastest lap time, 52.823 seconds, less than half a second behind Armstrong’s top mark. McElrea’s pace placed him within the top 10, a noteworthy achievement given his absence on the first test day and his extended run on day two.
The other rookies posted varied results with Caio Collett finishing 12th for AJ Foyt Racing, Dennis Hauger 19th representing Dale Coyne Racing, and Mick Schumacher 22nd for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Next Steps for IndyCar Testing
IndyCar preparations continue with an open test scheduled at Phoenix on February 18-19 (AEDT), where teams will further fine-tune their cars and drivers will strive to build on their Sebring performances. The outcomes from Sebring, especially McElrea’s surprising top 10 time, add a layer of anticipation for the season opener and reflect growing competition among rookies and seasoned drivers alike.
“McElrea’s time, a 52.823s, was just under half a second off of Armstrong’s best lap.” – Anonymous
