IRL: Redon completes rookie test

JOLIET, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001 - Former Formula One test driver Laurent Redon completed his Indy Racing League Rookie Test Aug. 21 at the new Chicagoland Speedway and now plans to race in the Delphi Indy 300 at Chicagoland Sept. 2 and the Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway Sept. 16.

The 28-year-old Redon, from Chamond, France, completed 86 laps under the supervision of Mark Bridges, technical director of the Indy Racing League.

"It was obvious, he's a racer," said Bridges. "He was very calm in the car and gave good feedback to the team." Redon completed the test in a Dallara owned by Conquest Racing, which has fielded cars in Indy Lights competition in recent years. Two-time Indianapolis 500 starter Eric Bachelart is the chief executive officer of Conquest Racing.

"We had a pretty good test," said Bachelart who competed at Indianapolis in 1992 and 1995. "After the test we put him on the track for more laps. With the test behind us, now, we are going to do the last two races."

Redon did a total of 120 laps on Tuesday with a top speed of just over 213 mph in the Dallara, which was purchased from Nienhouse Motorsports.

"I think we have a good car," said Redon. "Eric has hired a good engineer (Darrell Soppe). The car was fantastic. I never had a problem. It never pushed or had any understeer all day"

Redon spent 1999 as a test driver for the Benetton team in F1 after spending 1998 as a test driver for the Minardi team, also in F1. He finished ninth in Formula 3000 points in 1997 after finishing eighth in 1996. Also in 1996 he finished second in the French F3000 championship after winning the title in 1995 with four victories and nine podium finishes. Redon's career started in karts in 1990.

The team was planning on testing with Redon again at Chicagoland.

"I would like to run with some full tanks, and practice pit stops and starts," said Redon.

Conquest Racing will compete in the final two Indy Racing Northern Light Series events with sponsorship from MI-JACK and Hype Energy Drink. The car will be a Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone.

-IRL/IMS-