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Keselowski Drives Indy Car At Road America
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He's made no secret about wanting to race in the Indianapolis 500, but it was still a surprise to see Brad Keselowski—in his Miller Lite NASCAR Sprint Cup uniform—get in one of Roger Penske's Indy cars during a test at Road America.
Keselowski got in the No. 22 Chevy of Simon Pagenaud after getting some pointers from his Penske teammate.
“I was just making sure the car was comfortable and well set up for him to start,” Pagenaud said. “He’s pretty excited, he’s always wanted to drive an Indy car. Hopefully he likes it and maybe we can do a ride swap someday.
“It’s a very different beast. Our Indy cars are now predominantly aero, so the grip level you get is very speed dependent. … The Cup car is very mechanical, so you have to be very academic about your driving. You transfer weight and the front of the car turns.
“We have it a different way. Our braking is so strong it might take him a while to find the limit of braking. I think the car is going to be quite impressive for him. I can’t wait to see his reaction after his first run.”
Keselowski, who called it "a heck of an opportunity," was amazed by the difference between an Indy car and a stock car.
"It sure was getting in the corners a lot deeper," he said. "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."
Keselowski said he told Pagenaud afterward that "he has a very secure job, at least from me."
"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."
Keselowski had a "blast," but Tim Cindric said not to read too much into the special test session.
"It's something he's always wanted to do and we fit him with a seat awhile back in case the opportunity came up," Team Penske's president said after spending the afternoon spotting in Turn 5. "This worked out well because he's been here before and obviously knows the track, plus it's got some decent runoff areas. He spun once at Canada corner but was right on par on the slow speed corners. He learned your head and upper body take a hit because of the G-forces.
"But we put in a lot more downforce, handed him the keys and he had a blast."
The 2012 NASCAR Cup champion has always been very open about his desire to run in the Indianapolis 500 some day for The Captain.
"I can't say it's imminent or that it's a prelude to next year but we'll see what happens," Cindric continued.
Several teams, including Andretti Autosport, Schmidt Peterson Motorsport, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and, of course, Penske, tested Wednesday. The Verizon IndyCar Series returns to Road America June 23-26.
Keselowski got in the No. 22 Chevy of Simon Pagenaud after getting some pointers from his Penske teammate.
“I was just making sure the car was comfortable and well set up for him to start,” Pagenaud said. “He’s pretty excited, he’s always wanted to drive an Indy car. Hopefully he likes it and maybe we can do a ride swap someday.
“It’s a very different beast. Our Indy cars are now predominantly aero, so the grip level you get is very speed dependent. … The Cup car is very mechanical, so you have to be very academic about your driving. You transfer weight and the front of the car turns.
“We have it a different way. Our braking is so strong it might take him a while to find the limit of braking. I think the car is going to be quite impressive for him. I can’t wait to see his reaction after his first run.”
Keselowski, who called it "a heck of an opportunity," was amazed by the difference between an Indy car and a stock car.
"It sure was getting in the corners a lot deeper," he said. "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."
Keselowski said he told Pagenaud afterward that "he has a very secure job, at least from me."
"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."
Keselowski had a "blast," but Tim Cindric said not to read too much into the special test session.
"It's something he's always wanted to do and we fit him with a seat awhile back in case the opportunity came up," Team Penske's president said after spending the afternoon spotting in Turn 5. "This worked out well because he's been here before and obviously knows the track, plus it's got some decent runoff areas. He spun once at Canada corner but was right on par on the slow speed corners. He learned your head and upper body take a hit because of the G-forces.
"But we put in a lot more downforce, handed him the keys and he had a blast."
The 2012 NASCAR Cup champion has always been very open about his desire to run in the Indianapolis 500 some day for The Captain.
"I can't say it's imminent or that it's a prelude to next year but we'll see what happens," Cindric continued.
Several teams, including Andretti Autosport, Schmidt Peterson Motorsport, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and, of course, Penske, tested Wednesday. The Verizon IndyCar Series returns to Road America June 23-26.
