Marshall Pruett posted the times of the various drivers from the past few weeks. The times include Graham Rahal and Mutoh's time who tested a week before Simona and EJ Viso's test last week. This is a quote from Marshall's SPEED article Triple Stint..

Newman/Haas/Lanigan ran both Graham Rahal and Hideki Mutoh at Sebring the week prior to de Silvestro’s test, clocking laps between a 54.2 and 54.3. Simona posted a 54.0, and was only bested by ex-HVM driver E.J Viso, giving it his all for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with a 53.91-second lap about 15 minutes after de Silvestro concluded her running. Viso’s somewhat ragged, on-the-limit outing was concluded with a cloud of tire smoked and locked brakes, sending the Venezuelan down an escape road to end the day.

It was suggested that Viso wasn’t keen on allowing de Silvestro’s 54.0 to stand as fast lap of the day, and his efforts to beat it by .09 took a lot of effort.

I don't know the conditions of the test so its hard to judge just looking at the times themselves from day to day.

To compare the 2008 test at Sebring

Ryan Briscoe (52.420 seconds)
Helio Castroneves (52.453s)
Tony Kanaan (52.860)
Hideki Mutoh (52.951)
Dan Wheldon (53.013s)
Scott Dixon (53.028s)

Keep in mind also that the 2008 test March and the last test were in the middle of December. I don't know how the weather is down in Florida so I can't comment on this but maybe someone else can?

Viso drives like that all the time

As a general rule, Sebring really needs quite a few cars on track to get the dust and grit off...nevermind the tire buildup in the concrete patches which may/may not match the IRL tire configuration.

I think when Andretti tested in early 09 They were all in the low 53 (53.0) high 52 range, as was Matos.

Plus I'm sure they weren't running purely for speed.

HVM would be retarded not to give he that 2nd seat. She might smoke Danica a few times.

aaron5572 - 16 December 2009 03:08 PM

HVM would be retarded not to give he that 2nd seat. She might smoke Danica a few times.

Not in that HVM machine. If she was on a upper level team like or a team that matches well with AA like Newman Haas - then yeah - the possibilities are there.

Hitokiri2 - 16 December 2009 03:23 PM

aaron5572 - 16 December 2009 03:08 PM

HVM would be retarded not to give he that 2nd seat. She might smoke Danica a few times.

Not in that HVM machine. If she was on a upper level team like or a team that matches well with AA like Newman Haas - then yeah - the possibilities are there.

Granted it was only testing but she was faster than the NHL cars at Sebring...

Need to take into account how many cars ran in that March test compared to two cars on week and the next. Huge different in rubber and grip levels, let alone variables like weather.

Hope to see Simona in IndyCar and one never knows how HVM could do, look at 07 with Doornbos's arrival in AOWR.

whiplashunleashed - 16 December 2009 05:30 PM

look at 07 with Doornbos's arrival in AOWR.

Yeah and his reintroduction to the Indycar Series in '09 with the team.

In fairness, they had Red Bull and Stoddart money in CCWS, now they have next to nothing to work with. Plus it's no secret HVM received from the IRL some of the oldest, most used chassis and parts of any of the CCWS teams.

there is a reason the monied teams start the season with a new tub. they do flex after some miles. even top level atlantic teams used to start the season with a new tub.