Eight IndyCar Drivers Test
New Milwaukee Mile Track
Appropriately, P.J. Jones, the son of racing champion Parnelli Jones, became the first driver to drive a race car on the new Milwaukee Mile track surface at 12:25 p.m. this past Monday. Parnelli is one of the all-time leading race winners in Milwaukee Mile history with eight stock car victories and two Indy Car wins in 1964 and '65.P.J.'s Eagle Toyota was followed by Scott Pruett who quickly brought his Firestone Patrick Racing Lola Ford Cosworth up to speed. Also participating in the test were the Target/Chip Ganassi Racing duo of U.S. 500 pole sitter Jimmy Vasser and rookie Alex Zanardi, Tasman Motorsports driver Andre Ribeiro and Adrian Fernandez, Greg Moore from Player's/Forsythe Racing and Milwaukee Mile track holder Raul Boesel, who drives for 1995 PPG Cup champion Brahma Sports Team, headed by Barry Green.
Boesel's initial impressions of the track were positive. "It's very good, very smooth," Boesel said. "I'm sure the lap times will come down a lot when more rubber is put down, it's very green right now and the tires don't get much temperature. It's very nice."
Asked if he thought a new track record will emerge during Miller 200 qualifying on June 1, Boesel said, "It will probably end up as one of the quickest short ovals, and when more rubber gets put down and we figure out the set-up for the smooth surface, we should go a lot faster. Everywhere we've gone this year the times have improved, so I don't see it any different here."
Unofficially, laps were being run almost one second under Boesel's 21.719 second record run in 1993, an average of over 165 MPH. One second shaved off the track record will translate into an average lap speed of over 173 MPH.
The Miller 200 weekend gets underway on Friday, May 31 with practice that is open to the public at no charge. Track records are expected during qualifying on Saturday, June1 with all seats just $8. The green flag for the Miller 200 falls at 12:00 Noon, Sunday, June 2. Reserved seats are still available in all price ranges, $70, $45 and $33; with infield general admission $20. Tickets can be purchased by contacting The Milwaukee Mile box office at 414-453-8277.
Source: IndyCar Website
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