Pickett Racing wraps up successful winter testing at Sebring

Sebring, FL - Muscle Milk Pickett Racing concluded what was deemed a successful test today at the American Le Mans Series' Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway.

#6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03c Honda: Lucas Luhr, Klaus Graf

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Graf turned the fastest lap of the two days with a time of one minute 46.368 seconds, more than a second quicker than Pickett Racing's qualifying time from last season.

The team went through an extensive testing plan, making many changes throughout the two days on track in order to collect as much data as possible aboard their recently upgraded HPD ARX-03c prototype.

The information will serve them throughout the 2013 season, in addition to the grueling season-opening race, as the team looks to defend its ALMS P1 Championship title.

During the Winter Test, Pickett Racing also unveiled its 'new' livery. The team has kept its traditional white, black and red scheme but revamped the red to a metallic, candy apple-like hue.

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing with Graf and Luhr will be back on track in a couple of weeks for another two-day test before heading back to Sebring International Raceway for the first race of 2013.

Klaus Graf - driver #6 Muscle Milk HPD ARX-03c "It was a very productive test. We made a lot of changes and went through a big program. We did a lot of miles and the car was very reliable. It was a very important test for us to go through the updated components and make sure everything works OK and is reliable.

"A lot of what we did will help us throughout the season as well as for the Sebring race but the track conditions change so much here, and that's normal, that it's hard to say how things will be come race week, it depends on so many factors. Overall, it was a very satisfying test and we collected plenty of data for us to look over."

Lucas Luhr - driver #6 Muscle Milk HPD ARX-03c "We made quite a bit of progress. It's just hard to tell sometimes here at Sebring because the track conditions change so dramatically. Therefore in regards to a pure lap time, at the end of the day, I'm not completely satisfied but after so many years of coming to Sebring I know it's always like this. When we come back here for the race it's going to be different anyway. It's a little tough to say how we compare to others because there were none of our P1 competitors here. But that's the exciting stuff, we'll see race week.

"As far as the running goes we ran a lot and we didn't have any issues with the car thanks to the good preparation from the guys. They did an awesome job.

"The Muscle Milk HPD ARX-03c also looks pretty with the new red. That said, I think we can leave here with an overall very positive attitude."

Pickett Racing