Dixon fastest in IndyCar practice in Brazil (PA SportsTicker)
March 13, 2010
By TALES AZZONI Associated Press Writer
SAO PAULO(AP)—Scott Dixon led both practice sessions Saturday for the IndyCar season-opener on a track through the streets of Sao Paulo that drew complaints from drivers for bumps and a lack of grip on the main straightaway.
The New Zealander turned the quickest lap in 1 minute, 31.7707 seconds on the 2.6-mile, 11-turn Anhembi temporary street circuit.
Australian Ryan Briscoe had the second-fastest time with a 1:31.9731, followed by Tony Kanaan’s 1:31.9753 in front of his home crowd.
The faster times of the day came in the first session because of colder temperatures. Dixon, Briscoe and Kanaan also led the time chart in the second session.
Defending series champion Dario Franchitti, Dixon’s teammate on the Target Chip Ganassi team, was 17th in the first session with a time of 1:33.8457 and 11th in the afternoon practice with a slower time.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves had the eighth fastest time with a lap of 1:32.9402.
The practices, which officially opened the newly built circuit in the city of 12 million people, prompted complaints from drivers about the track conditions.
In addition to the bumps, the main straight was slippery and kept drivers from being able to fully accelerate without losing control.
Milka Duno of Venezuela crashed there in the morning session, and Briscoe and Brazilian rookie Ana Beatriz lost control there in the afternoon.
“It’s really slippery over there and it’s hard to control the car,” Castroneves said. “They need to try to fix that somehow.”
Franchitti, who briefly ran off the track in the first session, strongly complained of the bumps.
“We knew it was going to be bumpy,” he said. “But this is kind of crazy.”
Kanaan said the slick straight and some of the bumps were making the track unsafe and asked officials to see if they could make some adjustments ahead of Sunday’s race.
“My main concern is safety,” the Brazilian said. “We need to talk to the officials to see if something can be done.”
The street circuit has the cars going through stadium-like Sambadrome, which is home to traditional carnival parades every year.
The track also has the series’ longest ever straight, which is just short of a mile. Some of the bumps are in that area, where cars reach nearly 190 mph.
Organizers had about three months to set up the track following the announcement that the IndyCar Series would be coming to Brazil for the first time since the CART series raced in the Latin American country from 1996-2000.
The qualifying session ahead of Sunday’s 75-lap race will take place later Saturday.
The IndyCar Series is trying to carry momentum from a thrilling season in 2009, when the points lead changed hands a record 15 times during the season, and three drivers reached the final race with chances to clinch the title.
Franchitti secured the trophy by winning the finale in Miami on fuel strategy, finishing just ahead of Dixon and Briscoe in the standings.