Franchitti upbeat after first Indy test

The Scot and Team Green team-mate Paul Tracy managed two days of running at the track, despite rain blighting the test. The first day was shortened because of the weather, but Franchitti and Tracy managed 52 and 49 laps respectively. Then after rain forced a two-day break, they returned to continue their familiarisation with the Indy Racing League Dallara-Chevrolets.

Franchitti managed to reach an average speed of 223.9mph on his best lap, but later made contact with the wall at Turn 1 and damaged the rear suspension. Tracy hit 226.6mph on his best lap.

"It's a great track," enthused Franchitti. "It's exciting because the turns are reasonably tight which creates loads of g-force through the corners. It's probably tighter than expected and when you're going fast, they tighten up more than I thought they would.

"This is not as fast as we can go but it is a good learning speed. It will get increasingly difficult to to go quicker in May, but we have the team to be quick and I'm geared up to go faster."

Both drivers have now switched their attention to this weekend's second round of the CART Championship Series at Long Beach. The Indy 500 takes place on May 26.