Open-wheelers continue learning process at testing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The first day of school has its pressures, but being the newbies at the lunch table comes with an extra helping of expectations and securitizations.

No one knows this better than the three former open-wheel drivers making their marks in NASCAR's second test session at Daytona International Speedway this week.

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For Dario Franchitti of Chip Ganassi Racing, Sam Hornish Jr. of Penske Racing and Patrick Carpentier of Gillett Evernham Motorsports, three days of Preseason Thunder test laps are crucial. The temperature is a little warmer for Carpentier, who will be forced to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 on time whereas Franchitti and Hornish are both locked in because of owner points.

Franchitti and Hornish have guaranteed starting spots; Franchitti thanks to owner points accrued by the No. 41 car and former driver David Stremme, and Hornish thanks to a points swap with the No. 2 car of past champion Kurt Busch.

In the morning session of Monday's test, Franchitti posted the fastest laps of the three open-wheelers -- third-fastest overall in the session -- with a quick lap of 184.305 mph.

Carpentier and his No. 10 crew will have to dig for more speed if they expect to make the big show in February. The driver had a fastest lap of 181.386 mph (36th on the speed chart) and worked on qualifying trim somewhat but really spent the majority of the time performing single runs.

"The car feels good. We are making it free and finding the fast line, like Indy racing, but qualifying is going to be huge for us," said Carpentier, who until Monday had never driven on a superspeedway in a stock car. "Daytona will be one of the hardest races to qualify for. For us to qualify, to make the race, we will have to be in the top eight or 10 of those outside top 35 in owner points."

Finding speed wasn't a problem for Franchitti, although the Ganassi driver said test speeds don't always reflect race conditions or driver ability.

"We are fast because we brought a good car; not too much to do with the driver," he said.

In fact, testing sometimes has so little to do with the driver that Franchitti said he watched television on his phone while driving the car -- the Barrett Jackson Collector Car Auction, to be exact.

Television talk aside, Franchitti said he and his No. 40 crew worked on single runs and collected data to compile with data gleaned from teammates Reed Sorenson and Juan Montoya, who both tested last week in the first test session. It was all beneficial for Franchitti, who until Monday had never driven the COT on a superspeedway, although he did drive an ARCA car here last season.

"Yeah the first time in the COT feels fine," he said. "I'm just noticing more bumps with the car coming over the tunnel, more than maybe the ARCA car."

Bumps are nothing for Hornish who has raced at Daytona a handful of times in the International Race of Champions. Also, Hornish tried to qualify on a similar track last season at Talladega Superspeedway.

"If I hadn't ran those other events I might not feel as comfortable," said Hornish, whose speeds were the slowest of the three open-wheelers and 40th on the speed chart with his fastest lap at 181.057 mph.

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Those speeds won't get his No. 77 Dodge in the race next month, but he has time and he's locked in on his teammate's points for the Daytona 500, which will be Hornish's third Cup event. Last season he attempted to qualify for six races but made just two -- the final events of the season, at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.

"Going into first race knowing you're in the race feels good," Hornish said. "I know how difficult it is to make a race. It's a great opportunity for our team and I'm glad Kurt [Busch] wanted to do that."

The Penske Racing driver said he will work to find more speed, but Monday morning was all about handling and keeping the car up to code so they aren't met with penalties and fines like a handful of drivers and team owners were at the start of last season in Daytona.

"There's no tech line [NASCAR inspection] so we are trying to stay with the rules and guidelines," he added.

Overall, the three drivers feel pressure -- pressure from piloting a COT for the first time at Daytona, practicing in the draft, and getting the car to handle, all similar to those of other veterans in the garage.

"Some is off because our team is locked in the first five races, but it is up to me to make sure we stay in the top 35 in points from there on," Franchitti said. "There's always pressure to perform."

Carpentier agreed.

"Right now, it's hard to know what to expect," he said. "We are still in a learning process."