Pippa Mann Tops FIL Rookie Test Speed Charts

Yesterday was day one of the IRL test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway, & it was set aside for the new drivers in the Firestone Indy Lights Series to be put through their paces infront of the IRL officials and earn their clearance to participate in the 2009 FIL campaign. All eleven drivers who took to the track passed the test in fine form.

Then it was time to turn the wick up and get a feel for running these cars, which are faster & more powerful than anything that some of these drivers have previously experinced, at full song.

Topping the speed charts was Pippa Mann, driving for Panther Racing's FIL squad, with a top lap at just over 185.5 mph on the 1.5 mile oval. While she was happy to set the mark for the session, the 25 year-old from London, UK is more focused on today's FIL session. "It's one thing to be fast when you are on your own, but I need to run in traffic. I hope we can get some of that when everyone else is on the track."

The FIL drivers, rookies & veterans, will get the track from 9am-3:45 pm today. As of last night, there were seven veteran drivers scheduled to drive, including the 2007 FIL season champion Jay Howard, who competed in five IndyCar events in 2008 with the now-defunct Roth Racing team. There are another two FIL cars on the participsnt list without assigned drivers; waiting for last-minute deals to be struck?  

After the FIL gang finishes up, the IndyCar drivers will run the first of their two 4pm - 10pm evening sessions.