Scott Dixon topped the times in a windy IndyCar Firestone tyre test at Texas Motor Speedway on Wednesday.
Eighteen cars participated in the test, with the reigning series champion ending the day on top with a 218.605mph lap.
Teams were also using the test to evaluate aero configurations ahead of the race at the venue in June, although Rahal Letterman Lanigan engineer Bill Pappas said that gaining meaningful comparisons was difficult due to the conditions.
“The conditions were pretty bad in the morning when it was windy and then in the afternoon it became very gusty – between 25 and 30mph wind gusts,” he said.
“It would catch the car differently each lap so trying to detect where you wanted to place the car each lap made it very, very difficult.”
Also among those present was Juan Pablo Montoya, who said that his recent experience at the track in NASCAR actually made it more difficult to settle in with a single-seater.
“[Testing at] Sebring was a lot simpler because I had only been there in an IndyCar,” he said.
“I know it was a long time ago, but because it’s still an IndyCar, I knew the reference points. But here, and places I’ve been in a Cup car, you are used to lifting and braking and all of that.
“You have to remind yourself that you can run wide open. It’s hard and it’s fun, but so much quicker.”
