IRL teams prepare for season opener

While the one-mile oval may be the same, all teams will be using a new engine and chassis package.

This season, all competitors will switch from 4-litre engines [introduced in 1997] to 3.5-litre configurations.

However, engines will continue to be supplied by Oldsmobile Aurora and Nissan Infiniti.

This year's chassis - produced by Dallara, G Force and Riley & Scott, carry both aerodynamic and safety enhancements on the 1999 specification.

New safety features on the 2000 chassis include: a wider cockpit to enable teams to increase headrest padding, anti-intrusion barriers to improve side-impact performance, improved wheel-retention system, higher and longer sidepods.

Following tyre manufacturer Goodyear's withdrawal from the series, all teams will be running on Firestone rubber.

Over the past few weeks, several teams have tested at the Disney Speedway in preparation for this weekend's season opener.

Eddie Cheever, who won the race in 1999, is keen to retain his crown, but believes his team's late preparations could prove costly.

"We won last year because of intense winter preparation," said Cheever. "This year, we are very late with our prime component, the car. Combine that with a new engine and new tyres, and you could say that we are still learning as we go.

"The lateness of the equipment has really put us, in my opinion, behind the top three or four teams by at least a month and a half."

Ex-CART racer Al Unser Jr will also be making his debut in the series.

The former Penske driver - who left the Champ Car series at the end of last season - will be driving for Galles-ECR Racing.

Unser Jr is realistic about his chances at the Florida circuit.

"Going into Disney, our main goal is to finish the race, and if we can finish well, that will just be the icing on the cake," he said.

"There are a lot of new factors that are going to go into play on race weekend. Reliability is a key one and our testing has been focused on those factors.

"We have been working out our brand new G Force chassis and ironing out all of the little glitches that come with any new chassis."

IRL Rookie of the Year candidate, Sam Hornish Jr, 20, who will be youngest driver in race says he is looking for a top 10 finish in the 200-lap event.

"My goals for the first race are to qualify in the top 15 and to not only finish the race but to finish in the top 10. Staying out of trouble is my biggest priority."