Inaugural Spring Training A Big Hit

Inaugural Spring Training A Big Hit
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Spring Training opened in South Florida on Feb. 5, but it was not the usual collection of a few pitchers and catchers reporting to camp. Twenty-four IndyCar teams and more than 100 representatives from national and international media outlets converged on the Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex for the inaugural IndyCar Spring Training.
The five-day session allowed drivers to test on the 1.51-mile oval that will be the site of the season-opening Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota on March 3. The spring event also gave the media access to drivers and teams in a relaxed setting while fans received a glimpse, as well as a few autographs, of the IndyCar stars and cars who will be arriving in less than a month.
"This has been a great kickoff for the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota,'' said Ralph Sanchez, owner of the Homestead Motorsports Complex. "It has been a tremendous opportunity to show off our new facility to both the media and the fans. In fact, we've been selling a record number of tickets for the Grand Prix as a result of people coming here during IndyCar Spring Training.''
Jimmy Vasser of Target Chip Ganassi Racing waited until the final minute of the closing session of the event to push his Reynard Honda with Firestone tires to a track-record speed of 195.938 miles per hour. Vasser, who only tested on the final day, was the only driver to top 195 mph.
"Not bad for only one day,'' Vasser said, "but it doesn't mean anything until the race. It could be a whole different ball game by then, but we know we have a good team and a good car.''
Two others who had notable efforts were Paul Tracy of Marlboro Team Penske and Greg Moore of Player's Ltd./Forsythe. Tracy set the pace early in his Mercedes-Benz car equipped with Goodyear tires, clicking off the top speed in his first five practices. He also had the best speeds in the three sessions on the complex's 2.210-mile road course. His leading oval speed of 194.848 mph set during the early afternoon session on the final day ranked second overall for the entire week.
Moore, driving a Reynard Mercedes-Benz with Firestones, followed the lead of his fellow Canadian by posting the best speed in four other sessions. His top speed of 194.808 mph during the final day's late afternoon session ranked third overall.
"I think this was an excellent opportunity to give the fans down here a preview of the pure speed and excitement that comes with the PPG Indy Car World Series,'' said Andrew Craig, IndyCar president and chief executive officer. "Overall, we were extremely pleased with our inaugural Spring Training, and hopefully we can turn it into an annual event in Homestead.''
The event attracted new as well as old fans throughout the week. Joe Meyer of Miami was on hand and came away impressed with his introduction to Indy Car racing.
"Curiosity brought me out here,'' Meyer said. "I was very impressed by the speed of the cars.''
Al O'Keefe, another fan from Miami, has attended the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami in the past, but is looking forward to its debut on the Homestead oval.
"We thought it was great then, but this will be even better,'' O'Keefe said. "This week was a great opportunity for me to come here and I'm looking forward to the race in March.''
The Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota is the first of 16 events in the 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series. This season's schedule includes two new events, the Rio 400 on March 17 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and U.S. 500 on May 26 in Brooklyn, Mich.
The best times for the week are as follows:
     Vasser    Reynard-Honda (F)             27.743    195.938     Tracy     Penske-Mercedes Benz (G)      27.899    194.848     Moore     Reynard-Mercedes Benz (F)     27.904    194.808     Pruett    Lola-Ford/Cosworth XD (F)     28.240    192.490     Fernandez Lola-Honda (F)                28.242    192.481     Boesel    Reynard-Ford/Cosworth XD (G)  28.292    192.141     Ribeiro   Lola-Honda (F)                28.307    192.036     Zanardi   Reynard-Honda (F)             28.315    191.980     de Ferran Reynard-Honda (G)             28.354    191.718     Rahal     Reynard-Mercedes Benz (G)     28.743    189.122     Gordon    Reynard-Ford/Cosworth XD (G)  28.763    188.993     CFittipaldi Lola-Ford/Cosworth XD (G)   28.782    188.869     Blundell  Reynard-Ford/Cosworth XB (G)  28.791    188.808     EFittipaldi Penske-Mercedes Benz (G)    28.852    188.408     Gugelmin  Reynard-Ford/Cosworth XB (G)  29.045    187.157     Krosnoff  Reynard-Toyota (F)            29.169    186.365     Lawson    Lola-Mercedes Benz (G)        29.224    186.011     Johansson Reynard-Mercedes Benz (G)     29.227    185.990     Unser     Penske-Mercedes Benz (G)      29.435    184.677     Goodyear  Reynard-Ford/Cosworth XD (G)  29.527    184.100     Fangio    Eagle-Toyota (G)              30.054    180.874     Matsushita Lola-Ford/Cosworth (F)       33.275    163.364