Junqueira tops open test

The Newman/Haas Lola-Ford driver set a best time of 50.98s, a little under 0.2s quicker than nearest challenger A.J. Allmendinger in the first of the RuSports cars.

"Overall it went well for us," said Allmendinger, the 2004 Rookie of the Year. "The car feels stronger already this year than it did at the end of last season."

Jimmy Vasser was third quickest for PKV Racing and was extremely upbeat about the effect that new team manager Jim McGee was having on the outfit.

"I've been on winning teams in my career and success has never been because of any special parts on the car," he said. "The teams that do well are the ones that have great chemistry and handle themselves professionally, and this is something that Jim brings to the team."

RuSport's second driver Justin Wilson completed the top four ahead of ex-Herdez driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, who was hampered by an ill-fitting seat in his first run for Rocketsports. Hunter-Reay has yet to sign a deal for 2005, but Champ Car organisers are determined to keep him in the series, with a place alongside Alex Tagliani at Rocketsports thought to be his most likely destination.

Having tested Matt Halliday and Bruce Jouanny on Friday, Conquest Racing's driver auditions continued with Toyota Atlantic graduate Alex Figge getting a run at Sebring. He lapped 1.4s slower than Junqueira. The team's confirmed driver Nelson Philippe was also present but did not set a representative time due to engine problems.



Bruno Junqueira (Newman/Haas) 50.98s
A.J. Allmendinger (RuSport) 51.13s
Jimmy Vasser (PKV) 51.24s
Justin Wilson (RuSport) 51.35s
Ryan Hunter-Reay (Rocketsports) 51.76s
Alex Figge (Conquest) 52.37s