Wilson welcomes new weight rules

The Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver is the tallest driver in the field at 1m90cm, meaning he is also one of the heaviest.

But with rules now setting the minimum weight of the car according to the weight of the driver, which means the lightest drivers must carry as much as 35kg of ballast, Wilson believes the playing field has been levelled.

"I think it's very important," Wilson said. "It's the first step in making things fair. In every form of motorsport I've come across, especially Formula 1, the weight is critical.

"On a road course, 10 pounds equals a tenth of a second, so if you're 100 pounds heavier than someone it's a second a lap you're giving away.

"I'm fortunate, and quite a lot of the drivers here are fortunate, that the IRL has seen that and made some adjustments to help make it equal."

Wilson also paid tribute to the work put in by the Newman/Haas/Lanigan team to adapt to IndyCar Series machinery in such a small space of time.

The team is one of five teams to have switched from the Champ Car World Series at the last minute following the unification of American single-seater racing and only tested for the first time at the beginning of the week.

"I'm very grateful for the team and the effort they've put in over the last four weeks to get the cars prepared and to get them to a standard that is very high and the usual standard," said Wilson.

"It's going to be a tough season. The main thing is being realistic, staying calm and trying not to rush things. We'll see what happens, but I'm very excited about being one series, the merger. It gives everybody a good opportunity for the future."

The first round of the championship will be held at Homestead on Saturday night.