Vickers Fastest in Two-Day Indy Test
INDIANAPOLIS (July 14, 2004) – In a two-day test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 12-13, Brian Vickers and the GMAC Racing team turned the fastest lap of the session with an unofficial speed of 181.554 mph.
Vickers was one of 22 drivers that participated in the test in preparation for the 11th Brickyard 400 on Sunday, Aug. 8. The session marked Vickers first-ever laps on the historic 2.5-mile oval, and he was only seven-tenths of a second slower than the track qualifying record of 48.822 seconds (184.343 mph) set in 2003.
“The test went really well,” Vickers said. “I tell you what, I love this place. It’s a lot of fun. It just has that energy about it -- the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I’ve always admired this race track and respected it, and to finally be out here and be on it is pretty neat.
“You make that first lap -- I just about missed Turn 1, just taking in the scene, the grandstands and the frontstretch. To leave here the fastest is a pretty neat experience.”
Vickers said the track’s layout, with long straightaways and tight, flat turns, suits his driving style.
“I have always liked the unique places,” he said. “I like Darlington; it’s one of my favorite places, and it’s tricky. Indianapolis has four distinct corners that you can’t trim the same. There are so many different ways to get around the place. I know it’s a one-groove race track, but you can take so many different lines.
“I don’t have it figured out. I’ll probably learn something when I come back. I’ll probably learn something new 10 years from now, if I have that opportunity, but I have enjoyed the time I’ve spent here so far.”
As the race approaches, the team plans to carry the momentum they’ve picked up in the last couple months into the event.
In the past eight races they have started in the top-five six times and garnered six top-15 finishes. That stretch dates back to the May 15 event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, where the No. 25 team picked up the pole position with a record-setting lap and collected their season-best finish of eighth place.