CHAMPCAR/CART: Ganassi Racing Sebring test notes

Sebring, Florida  Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kenny Brack took the seat of his new 2002 Lola for the first time on Monday and Tuesday in Sebring, Florida. Last year's runner-up in the CART FedEx Championship series turned a total of 300 miles in the new car and came away impressed by the new Lola.

"They have made improvements on last year's Lola," Brack said. "I like the direction they are going in. We had a real successful test over these last two days. My team members and engineers have adapted quickly to what I like with the car. We also put a lot of miles on the Toyota engine and we did not have any problems at all. We had a successful test here in Sebring over the last two days. We put a lot of miles on the car and gathered a lot of valuable information for next season. Being in the car makes me hungry for the season to start. We've got a good thing going here at Team Target."

The main purpose of the test was to compare the 2001 and 2002 versions of the Lola. It was also Brack's first road course test with the Toyota power plant. The results were positive, as Brack ran laps in the low 51-second range and over the two-day test, the car had no mechanical problems.

On Tuesday afternoon, Brack took a break to allow Team Target NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer to try out the 2001 Lola. Spencer turned five laps in the open-wheel machine and was amazed by the power of the champ car.

"That was amazing!" Spencer said as he climbed from the cockpit. "What an incredible experience. I had to come in after 5 laps because I was having too much fun out there. The speed and acceleration of those cars is awesome."

The Sebring test was the second time Brack has been behind the wheel of a Target Toyota/Lola, the first coming at a Bridgestone tire test in Phoenix. Brack feels that he is adjusting quickly to his new surroundings.

"From the first day that I spent around this team, I felt right at home," said Brack. "We all have the same goal...to win championships. This is an experienced group of people who know how to win. What has really impressed me is how everything is so organized. Each day that I spend with them, I realize why they won all of those championships. It's going to be a great year in 2002."

Team Target managing director Mike Hull continues to be impressed with what he has seen from his new driver.

"Kenny has done a great job ever since he has joined this organization, both on the track and off," said Hull. "He possesses a lot of the positive traits that we have had in drivers over the last several years. He is very aggressive, yet he knows what his limits are. He wants to get everything that he can out of the car on every lap. This test was very good for us. We learned a lot about the new 2002 Lola and about our new driver. Kenny's all-business attitude is a great fit with this team. I'm really impressed with what I have seen from him so far this year."

Brack and Team Target will take a break for the holidays before resuming their busy off-season testing schedule in Laguna Seca on January 9-11.

-tcgr-