IRL: Dan Wheldon first test recap

Wheldon impressive in first Panther IRL test.

England's Dan Wheldonhad an excellent first test session with his new Indy Racing League (IRL) team - Panther Racing - at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday when he set a time only four hundredths of a second slower than his team-mate, Sam Hornish Jr, the current Indy Racing League Champion.

Wheldon's speed of 220.5 mph around the 1.5 mile oval circuit was also comfortably faster than the best lap set by Marlboro Team Penske driver, Gil de Ferran, the winner of the most recent IRL race -at Pikes Peak - and the 2000 and 2001 CART FedEx Champion.

After his impressive debut for Panther Racing, a happy Dan Wheldon commented: 'I had a fantastic first test for Panther! It was great to just jump in the car and be right on the pace -particularly as I only did 32 laps and drivers such as Gil de Ferran and Robbie Buhl were on track for two full days. I can't wait to do more testing and then race for Panther later this year . . .'

Also of note is the fact that this test was Dan Wheldon's first track outing since last December.

Dan Wheldon, the current Indy Lights Rookie of the Year - who celebrated his 24th birthday the day after his track debut for Panther Racing - is scheduled to race for the team in the last two events on this year's IRL calendar, at Chicago and in Texas in September.

-www.danwheldon.com