Blundell tests new PacWest in Phoenix

The session - which took place on Tuesday - was Blundell's first drive in a racecar since the final round of the CART championship at California Speedway last year.

However, the new 2KI Reynard chassis has a different seating position than last year's car.

"The seating position is something we will tweak tomorrow and I am sure we can work it out," said Blundell.

"I am sore in a few places, but that is expected after almost a three-month break. I will sleep well tonight.

"It was just great to be back in a racecar and one that offers so much promise.

"The Mercedes-Benz engine seems very strong and I am looking forward to pushing it a little more tomorrow and on the road course later in the week.

"'Mo [team-mate Mauricio Gugelmin] has already praised the new car and so far I have no reason to disagree with him. The new wing package has a reasonable baseline at this stage."

The test session was overseen by PacWest's new engineering recruits Guillaume Rocquelin and Steve Clark, and the team's technical director, Allen McDonald.

Blundell will continue his two-day test at PIR today.

He will hand over the wheel to team-mate Mauricio Gugelmin on Thursday.