By Andrew Cutler
March 1 2008

After the reunification press conference, it was time to get back to preparing for the upcomming season. All of the full-time veteran squads of the IndyCar Series spent Wednesday and Thurdsay evening putting in laps at Homstead-Miami Speedway where the season will kick off in one month.

The former CCWS teams that will make the switch to IndyCar were not yet ready to participate in the testing: they should be ready to join in when the series tests again next week at Sebring, FL. It has not yet been announced whether they will get a "make up" test of their own at Homstead-Miami, per an idea that has been suggested.

The Wednesday evening session was dominated by the Target Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon, who both cracked the 213.2 mph mark; the fastest speeds of either day. 

On Thursday the drivers of the Indy Pro Series took to the 1.5 mile oval for the late morning and early afternoon. Former Atlantics standout Raphael Matos was the quickest of the 21 who ran, posting the only 187+ mph speed of the session. Other newcommers to the series also faired well, including Cyndie Alleman and Ana Beatriz, who were ninth & tenth fastest repectively with speeds in excess of 186 mph.

That evening the IndyCar drivers got another shot at preping their cars and shaking off the off-season dust. Danica Patrick, who had missed the Wednesday session due to the flu, methodically dialed in her car over 186 laps until she posted a session best 213.182 mph: Penske driver Ryan Briscoe would join her in the 213+ club.

In all, sixteen drivers would put in laps, including Milka Duno (pictured above), who was announced on Wednesday as running a limited schedule for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Only Roth Racing's Jay Howard, who has yet to pass his rookie test, was not in action this time around.