Honda Sebring Open Test day 4 report

Dixon, Franchitti Pace IndyCar Spring Training

Scott Dixon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

The Honda-powered Target Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Scott Dixon and three-time defending series champion Dario Franchitti paced IZOD IndyCar Series “Spring Training” this week at Sebring International Raceway. The pair headed the time sheets after four days of testing at the central Florida race circuit, the final full field test prior to the start of the 2012 season.

Ten Honda-powered drivers were among the 27 taking part in the test, as manufacturer competition returns to IndyCar racing in 2012, following six years of Honda supplying engines to the full field.

Series veteran Mike Conway marked his move to A.J. Foyt Racing with the eighth-fastest time, while Takuma Sato rounded out the top ten in his debut with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Simon Pagenaud, driving for Schmidt Hamilton Racing, was the quickest of three series rookies. The 16-race 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season kicks off on March 25 with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) quickest in Spring Training testing: “Today was more a day of learning about the new car and trying to soak up as much as we can before St. Pete. We did the work on the car and as the sun went down a bit of cloud cover came in and the track picked up some time. We definitely made the car quicker with our work today. It was good to do something for the lads and at the end it worked out.”