Foursome set for CART tests

The foursome - Casey Mears, Oriol Servia, Philipp Peter and Scott Dixon - will each pilot a 1998 PacWest Reynard, equipped with a 2000 Reynard gearbox.

Mears will kick off the four-day session on Monday (October 4), with Dixon, Peter and Servia testing on the following days respectively.

The sessions follow similar tests by PacWest Lights driver Didier Andre and Tony Renna, who tested at Sebring in August.

PacWest's vice president of racing operations, John Anderson, said, 'Didier and Tony did an excellent job for us at the Sebring test, and we wanted to give other Indy Lights guys a shot at driving a Champ Car.

'We're impressed by Oriol, Casey, Philipp and Scott's performances this year, and fell that they deserve a chance to test a PacWest Reynard.'

Anderson also hit out other Champ Car teams for failing to encourage young talent.

'I don't think that Champ Car teams are supporting the Indy Lights drivers or the series as well as they should,' he added.

'I'd like to see other CART teams do more to encourage our hone-grown talent, regardless of where these jokers may have been hatched.'

Servia leads team-mate Mears by 14 points, with one round remaining in this year's championship.

Peter is third, with rookie Dixon in fourth.