Photo Credit: IndyCar
On June 15, there was an open IndyCar test at Road American in preparation for the upcoming Kohler Grand Prix of Road America. 11 IndyCar drivers and teams participated, but there was a special guest who also came out as well.
Brad Keselowski, who is a driver for Team Penske in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, came out to the track on his day of to attend the test. Before the test was over for the day he ended up climbing into Simon Pagenaud’s No.22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet and took it around the track for some thrilling laps around the beautiful serine 4.048-mile road course.
“I’ve always wanted to drive an Indy car, I think (Penske Racing President) Tim Cindric knew that,” Keselowski said. “The opportunity came up to dip my toes in the water and kind of expand my knowledge base and put it in the back of my mind for wherever it goes, I don’t know. But it was a heck of an opportunity and I’m glad to have a chance.”
Pagenaud took laps around the track in the early morning session, which Keselowski getting his chance in the car during the afternoon session.
“First thing I told Simon is he has a very secure job, at least from me,” Keselowski said after the test. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him and his team, everyone at Team Penske. This 22 Menards team, they did a great job today and I had a lot of fun going with them. Simon was fast, really fast and gave me a good rabbit to chase. I learned a ton today and had a lot of fun. I’ve got to let it soak in here to think about all of it.”
Keselowski isn’t the first NASCAR driver to cross over into the IndyCar world. Kurt Busch tested an IndyCar in 2004 at Sebring International Raceway and would eventually earn Rookie of the Year honors after finishing sixth in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. Also back in 2011, Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Jamie McMurray and Scott Dixon did a car switch where McMurray shook down some laps in Dixie’s car at Barber Motorsports Park while Scott Dixon as running some laps in McMurray car at Talladega Superspeedway.
Keselowski stated that he could feel the differences in handling as well as the braking between the IndyCar and the stock car.
“(The Indy car) sure was getting in the corners a lot deeper,” Keselowski added. “I think the Indy car just pulls so many G’s through the center of the corner and in the brake zone. You have to build confidence in it because the stock car does everything it can to wreck your confidence and in the Indy car it’s important to have confidence. So you have to kind of unlearn everything you learned in a stock car to be good in these cars.
“That’s a heck of a process but a fun one. It’s certainly a different feel, trying to get acclimated to a different seat and you lean back more. I was kind of sitting in Simon’s seat and it doesn’t always fit you perfect, so it wears you out pretty quick. But it’s a good way to get worn out.”
