Scott Dixon’s quest for a seventh IndyCar title took its first strides today. The Kiwi finished eighth-fastest on the second day of pre-season testing at Sebring.
Dixon didn’t participate in yesterday’s open test day. Instead, the Chip Ganassi Racing team put all four of their cars through their paces today.
The Kiwi’s best time around the Sebring short circuit was a 52.422, three-tenths slower than the day’s pacesetter Simon Pagenaud.
Pagenaud, who left Team Penske and joined Meyer Shank Racing during the off-season, led the 14-car field. He was narrowly followed by MSR teammate Helio Castroneves.
Marcus Ericsson was third fastest, rounding out a Honda 1-2-3.
Defending champion Alex Palou fractionally pipped CGR stablemate Dixon to land the sixth-best time. Splitting the Spaniard and the Kiwi was Conor Daly.
Several rookies also got some more laps in the bag. Those included Tatiana Calderon, Kyle Kirkwood and Callum Illot.
The 2022 IndyCar season begins with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg later this month.
Read our Day One report, which saw Scott McLaughlin hit the track, here.