Power quickest in Sebring test

With Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal absent, KV, Dale Coyne Racing, and Conquest Racing ran two cars each in preparation for their first IndyCar race later this month.

The six cars covered a total of 276 laps during the day with the only reported incident a suspension failure for Dale Coyne's new signing Mario Moraes late in the afternoon.

Power's best lap, a 52.968, was half a second slower than the quickest lap of the IndyCar test at the circuit earlier this month, set by Ryan Briscoe.

The first four cars were covered by sixth tenths of a second, with F3 graduate Moraes a second further back on his debut. Enrique Bernoldi only completed four laps and didn't post a competitive time.

Power was pleased to be quickest on his first outing of the year, and was glad to get some running in before his first oval test, at Homestead on Monday.

"It was good to be able to run around and get back into form because I haven't driven for five months. It's good to get a run like this before going to an oval, which I've never done before.

The Australian played down the difficulty of adapting to a new car so close to the start of the season.

"It's pretty similar to a Champ Car. They're a similar weight, with a similar wheel base, a little less horsepower, and not as much grip. But it's just a car in the end, and you try to make it go as quick as you can."

The test concludes with a second day of running today.

Today's times:

Pos Driver               Temm                    Time          Laps
 1. Will Power           KV Racing               52.968         77
 2. Bruno Junqueira      Dale Coyne Racing       53.234         61
 3. Franck Perera        Conquest Racing         53.492         23
 4. Oriol Servia         KV Racing               53.586         96
 5. Mario Moraes         Dale Coyne Racing       54.612         15
 6. Enrique Bernoldi     Conquest Racing         58.738          4