Indy Lights Test with Panther Racing
Britain’s Martin Plowman has successfully completed his first ever Indy Lights test with Panther Racing at the Sebring International Raceway ahead of his 2009 championship debut. Plowman completed over 200 laps of the circuit in Florida, USA, on 8&9 October, and impressed his new team throughout the extensive two-day test.
Just last month, Plowman made the switch from the Formula 3 Euro Series to Indy Lights in America where he will compete in his inaugural 2009 season with the successful Panther Racing team. A warm welcome from the crew ensured that Plowman quickly felt at ease while the 21 year-old has made an effortless transition to driving a completely new car in a different formula while moving to live in the States, in Indianapolis close to the Panther Racing factory.
Commenting on his first outing in an Indy Lights car, Plowman said: “I’ve had an awesome time here at Sebring running my first laps in the Panther Racing car. I didn’t have long to get settled in but the team more than made up for that by really making me feel at home. We’ve all gelled really quickly, it’s like I’ve been racing with them for years.
“We went through a rigorous testing schedule and I’m really happy with my progress over the last two days. The Indy Lights is a lot more powerful than a F3 Euro series car but the Dallara is also a lot heavier, which makes you more conscious of how you manipulate the car. A smooth driving skill is the key. The Dallara is much less forgiving than a F3 car, so a slick technique is definitely required.”
Plowman immediately impressed the team during his outing and Panther Racing Indy Lights Team Co-Owner, Joe Cain, commented: “Upon the conclusion of Martin’s first test the team has been exceptionally impressed, not only by his speed but his technical ability to adapt to the car and what is a new style of driving for him. We are amazed at how he has managed to instantly bond with his race engineers and applied himself to the task in hand. With the team already 100 per cent behind him, we are looking forward to good things from Martin this season and to him capturing his first Indy Lights race win.”
With his first Indy Lights session under his belt, Plowman is eager to complete his Rookie test at Homestead-Miami Speedway and his first laps on an oval circuit in a further team test on 29 October. “I’m really looking forward to my first run on an oval at Homestead. I’m heading into the unknown but I’m certainly ready for the challenge and I will approach the test with no pre-conceived ideas. It’s exciting and daunting but I have complete trust in the Panther Racing team and I will be expertly guided by them every step of the way, to reach the first round of the series at St. Petersburg in April.”
