Hot Wheels - Carl Test Drives an Indy Car (4/3/2003)

Like the proverbial duck to water, Carl Scott showed that home to him is the cockpit of a formula car at speed.  Professional Auto Sports and McDonald racing provided Carl the opportunity to test drive an Indy Lights and an Indy Car in the comfortable confines of Firebird East.  After a few warm-up laps to get accustomed to the big tires, big engine and big brakes, he began showing the Buick engined Indy Lights March the fast line through the tight East course.  "The car is much more deliberate through the turns, but gets there, goes through, and comes out a lot faster," Carl resopnded when asked to compare the Indy Lights car to his F2000.  Within 5 laps, he was executing crisp sequential like shifts and easily keeping the big engine from spinning the tires, he cranked out laps faster than any thing else around.  "the engine is a lot stronger than anything i've ever driven before, and the shifts come a lot sooner in the Indy car than my (Pinto powered) F2000 or even a shifter kart" said Carl after the session.

Following the session, a television team from ABC affiliate channel 3 interviewed Carl.   The team needed some action video, so John McDonald offered his Indy Car for a short ride and Carl jumped in and took off, hustling the 700 HP Chevrolet as though it was his daily ride.  Once again, smooth shifts, no wheel spin and the car was flying within two laps.  "I thought the Lights car went fast, this was like being strapped to the nose of a rocket."

Unfortunately, the day ended too soon when the Lights Car came up lame with broken drive pegs and the Indy car needed more fuel than was available at the track.   However, Carl's dream to drive an Indy Car has been fulfilled and he is more excited than ever to race one.  With good luck and great people like Larry Pond of Pro AutoSports, that dream will also come true. 

Photo Caption:  Debriefing the test run.  John reviews Carls notes and discusses car's understeer.  "looks like the front wing is providing more lift than down force"

Photo Caption:  Ready to Rocket:  Carl poses with Buick powered March Indy Light Car prior to pushing off for his first test ride.