Conquest also pulls out of Barber test

HVM, Foyt and 3G have already decided to use their allocated testing miles in private sessions instead, and now Conquest - which is still trying to put its 2009 funding package together - has announced it will do likewise.

After ending 2008 on a high with Alex Tagliani's fourth place in Surfers Paradise, Eric Bachelart's team has had a difficult winter. A number of employees had to be released as it struggled to find sponsorship, and Conquest than ran near the back of the pack with 2008 driver Jaime Camara in the previous test at Homestead.

"We're in the process of finalising our programme and with that being our main focus we elected to skip the Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park and do a private test at a later date," Bachelart said.

"We're looking at doing a test prior to the start of the season, probably at a place like Sebring, which will better help us with our preparation for the upcoming street course races in St Petersburg and Long Beach."

The St Petersburg season-opener takes place in a fortnight. Seventeen cars from 10 teams are now expected to participate in the Barber tests on Sunday and Monday.