SBRS: CHAMPCAR/CART: Barber alumnus Townsend Bell testing update

Bell Among the Quickest in Testing

Skip Barber alumnus Townsend Bell continues to impress in preseason testing as he prepares for his maiden assault on the 2002 CART FedEx Series Championship. Completing his fifth test of the preseason in the Visteon Patrick Racing Reynard at the Homestead-Miami Speedway infield road course. Bell’s quickest lap of 1:08. 02 sec. was set in the course of completing over 320 miles of testing. Much of the work focused on developing the newly approved traction control systems. The time stands among the quickest of the times set during the three-day test.

"Overall, I was pleased with the way the test went," Bell said. "The Visteon Patrick Racing Toyota Reynard was consistently among the fastest cars when we were on the track and I think we learned a lot about running with traction control," said Bell who is a veteran of the Skip Barber Race Series and the Barber Dodge Pro Series.

“I have learned a lot during the preseason. The Visteon Patrick Racing team has made a big effort to help me make the adjustment to Champ Cars.,” continued Bell.“ Based on our preseason-testing program I think we have a very good setup for the first two races of the season, which are both on road and street circuits, so I am confident heading into the start of the 2002 FedEx Championship Series season."

Bell has two Champ Car starts to his credit. Both were on ovals in Europe in between his securing the Indy Lights Championship.

-barber/gt-