Kirkwood fastest at IndyCar Texas test, Grosjean tops the no-tow times

Kirkwood, reigning Indy Lights champion, turned a 219.78mph lap in his AJ Foyt Racing on his 116^th of 146 laps, but it came with the benefit of a tow.

The same was true of Callum Ilott, former Formula 2 championship runner-up, who finished the day second for the Juncos Hollinger Racing team, with whom he made his fourth IndyCar start last weekend at St. Petersburg.

Although Romain Grosjean was only third overall, he was barely slower without the aid of a tow, and therefore topped the no-tow list for Andretti Autosport. Grosjean raced at Gateway last year, and passed his Rookie Orientation Program at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October, but his pace was nonetheless impressive.

Although there are always caveats in testing regarding tyre life and fuel load, it will have encouraged Honda Performance Development that in the no-tow list, the four Honda-powered cars wound up ahead of the two Chevrolets.

David Malukas, Indy Lights runner-up in 2021, turned an impressive 210 laps in the Dale Coyne Racing to take fourth overall and second without the aid of a tow.

Another Indy Lights graduate, Devlin DeFrancesco, like team-mate Grosjean, was hardly any slower without a tow so was fifth overall but third without a tow.

Finally, Alpine Academy driver and Rahal Letterman Lanigan full-timer Christian Lundgaard propped up the table overall with his top speed overall set without a tow.