CHAMPCAR/CART: Gil de Ferran at Homestead

Walker Racing Test Report

Driver: Gil de Ferran Car: # 5 Valvoline/Cummins Special Honda Reynard 98 Track: Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex, FL Test days - January 16th- 17th , 1999 Miles ran: 483 miles ( 2 days ) Test: Goodyear tires test Gil's Best Lap Time: 25.6 Track Layout: 1.5-mile oval Track Records: Qualifying (one lap) - 1998, Greg Moore, 217.541 mph Race 1998, Michael Andretti, 144.339 mph Atmospheric conditions: 78 F - Track temp - 106 F Other drivers also testing : Michael Andretti (Newman-Haas - Ford Cosworth/Swift/Goodyear/99) Scott Pruett (Arciero-Wells - Toyota/Reynard/Firestone/99) Cristiano da Matta - (Arciero-Wells - Toyota/Reynard/Firestone/99) Tarso Marques (Payton Coyne -Ford Cosworth/ Reynard/Firestone/98)

Walker Racing Team:

Team Owner - Derrick Walker: "Sticking to our plan and using our '98 cars for a great number of our Goodyear tire tests, it's a pity that perfectly good racing cars each year are just put out to pasture. They are very good test vehicles and this year are very current which enables us the opportunity to get another few thousand miles out of them."

Engineer - Bill Pappas : " It was a very good test. After running almost 500 miles over two days it was interesting to see how close the '98 car ran compared to the '99's of Michael and Scott. The rules have created a situation that there are no longer major breakthroughs with each new season and puts more emphasis on each team to develop and optimize their cars.

Driver - Gil de Ferran: " Even though we had a competitive time with a '98 car, almost matched my 98 qualifying time with a lot of fuel in the car; but there is a lot more to come from improving the balance, and here Goodyear can help us a great deal . So for one point of view I'm happy with our pace, but for another standpoint, I still feel there is more to be done."

Next Test is scheduled at Firebird, Phoenix - January 21-22, 1999. Shake Down NEW CAR: #5 Valvoline/Cummins Honda Reynard 99.