De Ferran and Takagi enter fray

Team Penske's Gil de Ferran and Tora Takagi (Mo Nunn Racing) turned their first laps using 2003 IndyCar Series chassis and engines, along with a raft of other drivers and teams.

"I think for us it's quite a change, not only with the car, but it's also a completely new design from Dallara - a new gearbox, a new chassis, new suspension, new dynamics and a new engine," said de Ferran. "We're using these first few tests to understand the new car better. This is a preseason routine to better understand what we need to do for the year."

Former F1 driver Takagi was having his first ever run in an IRL car.

"First, I drove the 2002 G Force just to get a feel for an IRL car because I never drove one before," said the Japanese. "I did a total of about 40 laps. Then I got into the 2003 car with the Toyota engine, and the first thing I realised was that the car had a lot more power. That made me very happy.

"It didn't take long to adapt to the style of the IRL machine. I had no difficulties getting used to it. My main intention was to make sure the team left with the car in one piece. We will have plenty of testing to come, and I can say that I am very pleased with what I experienced today."