Texas Motor Speedway was abuzz Friday with the sights and sounds of three INDYCAR Series rookies testing in preparation for both the Indianapolis 500 in May and the DXC Technology 600 on June 8.
Marcus Ericsson (Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports), Ben Hanley (DragonSpeed), and Colton Herta (Harding Steinbrenner Racing) hit the high-banked 1.5-mile tri-oval in both the morning and afternoon sessions. It was the first time any of the three had logged miles in an IndyCar on an oval track.
Also in attendance was James Hinchcliffe, who made preliminary laps in the Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entry before turning it over to teammate Ericsson.
The following are quotes from Ericsson, Hinchcliffe, Herta and Hanley during today’s lunch break media availability:
Marcus Ericsson (No. 7 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports)
What has been the experience so far today at Texas Motor Speedway, you first time on an oval?
“It’s been a good first experience. Obviously, I’ve never tried anything like it before so, for sure, I was a bit nervous this morning. But it was a good feeling, like nervous but very excited to try it. It’s been a long build-up since I signed my INDYCAR contract back in last year. The road and street courses is stuff I’ve done all my life but the oval is the one sort of big new thing for me so it’s been a long build-up for that. We’ve been speaking a lot about it in the team, and also I’ve been speaking with James (Hinchcliffe) and Robby (teammate Robert Wickens) about it a lot and they’ve been really helpful. I think it’s one of those things that before you actually experience it yourself, you don’t really know what it’s like. That’s why I’m really happy here today and managed to do my first laps.”
Was there anything that surprised you so far?
“I’ve been on the Indianapolis (Motor) Speedway, and it’s such a really big track and everything and here it feels quite a bit smaller. The banking looks very steep here so that was something that surprised me when I got here. So it’s definitely quite different from the Indy oval but I think it looks really cool and it was really fun to drive, as well.”
Your teammate (James Hinchcliffe) has had quite a bit of success here. Did he have any advice for you?
“He had a lot of advice. I’ve been leaning on him a lot the last few weeks, talking about ovals, watching clips together and he’s been trying to help me out on things to think about and keep in mind. That’s been really helpful for me. And also like I said, with Robby as well. I’ve been speaking to him. I talked to him for a long time last night on the phone, as well. Both of them have been super helpful and that’s very important for me in getting up to speed. ”
“How much trepidation did you have last night about coming to Texas Motor Speedway for the first time?
“I’ve been a bit nervous, for sure, but it was really nice to have James here. We went out to dinner last night and he was talking about it and this morning we went on track with rental car to show me the lines and everything. The team had a really nice setup there and I’m really lucky to have such an experienced team, like James, to lean on and then, like I said, Robby has been very helpful with his experience because he went through the exact same thing last year learning everything from scratch. It’s been really helpful for me.”
Did you think you’d ever end up on an oval track when you started your career?
“I watched Kenny (Brack, fellow native of Sweden and 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner) when I was a kid, on Swedish television, so we had that live on Swedish television. I remember watching it with my dad when I was a kid. But being in Europe, my sort of goal was always to get to Formula 1 so I didn’t really think too much about it (INDYCAR) but I was always following it because it’s a series and type of racing I always got excited to watch. That’s why, when F1 didn’t work out, I was 100 percent keen to go America and try INDYCAR because it thought it was going to be the best series to do so I’m happy to be here.”
“How are you adjusting to America?
“It’s good. It’s different. I moved to Indianapolis and it’s obviously different from where I’m from in Sweden but I’ve always liked America. Every time I’ve been over for different things I’ve enjoyed it. It was also one of the reasons I was happy to go fully committed and move over here and do it the proper way. That’s been good, not only the racing side but on the personal side it’s been very good to have a team like ARROW Schmidt Peterson Motorsports because they’ve been helping me a lot getting settled into living in America, and also with James. He’s always been there for questions out of the track, as well.”
Do you feel, coming from Formula 1, expectations to exceed almost immediately?
“It’s something you get used to. In Formula 1, you always have a lot of pressure on your shoulders. I don’t feel anything different here. Always when you’re in the car there are expectations but the biggest expectations are coming from myself, I think. I don’t want to come here and make up numbers. I want to come here and do well, score podiums and wins. That’s my goal and I think we have all the tools to do that but I also have a lot of respect for the guys in this series. There are some very experienced drivers, super skillful. It is a very tough series but I’m getting the hang of it and I’m enjoying it.”
Will the Indy 500 be the longest race of your career?
“Probably … I don’t know how long it goes for. It’s going to be a long one, probably the longest one I’ve ever done, and my first oval race, as well. It’s going to be interesting but I’m excited.”
How difficult is it for you coming into the Indy 500 and not have any racing experience on an oval?
“I see it both ways. In one perspective, it’s good that it’s the 500 because you have so much practice leading up to it so you get so much days in the car before the actual race. But I think, obviously, racing people on an oval will be completely new for me, like in the proper fighting for track position for the first time will be in the Indy 500. That’s maybe not ideal. It would have been nice to maybe do a race before that to get the feel for that but I’m a quick learner and that’s been one of my strengths all my career. I just need to do the same now.”
Texas Motor Speedway is pretty different from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Can you take awayanything from here to keep in your head?
“One hundred percent. I’m going to put a lot of notes down tonight after today. I’m learning every lap out there so it’s definitely very helpful for me and, when we get back here, I’m sure today will have helped me a lot.”
And racing here at night?
“Yeah, that’s gonna be awesome. It looks really cool. I’ve been watching clips from previous years and it looks awesome to race at night here.”
James Hinchcliffe (No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports)
How has Marcus’ progress in INDYCAR been so far?
“Obviously this a bit of a crash course for Marcus. I’ve been through it before last year, with Robby (Wickens), so I kinda know what to expect, what information is important and the things I, maybe, forgot to tell Robby year because I just didn’t think about them. I think I’m a bit more prepared to help somebody out. He’s done a great job in the car so far. Obviously it’s completely different than anything he’s done. There’s a lot to take it so you’re not going to learn it all in one day, certainly. Luckily, he gets a taste of this track before we go to Indy but it’s been a good day so far.”
How weird is it, for everybody, not to have an oval race before the Indianapolis 500?
“Honestly, I think it’s probably the best way to do it because at Indy we get a week of practice so, especially for the rookies, you get a week to build up your confidence, learn a little bit about the race car, you get to do some kind of practice race-running in traffic at the end of each day that sorta naturally seems to happen. Whereas, if you came here, you do one hour of practice before your first qualifying and that’s not necessarily the most fun thing to do as a rookie. So, the way we’ve got it currently, I think having Indy be the first oval actually is beneficial to a lot of people.”
What do you think about the transition Marcus has to make, not only coming to a different series but moving to America?
“It’s a year of firsts for him, for sure. I mean, living in the States, he’s committed full time, moved to Indianapolis, getting used to the way of INDYCAR racing in general, the flow of our races, how to drive the car, to set the car up and then obviously the entire task of trying to master oval racing all in the span of about four months. He’s been a busy kid but he’s taken it in stride. He’s an ultimate professional. You know, five years at the Formula 1 level, you learn a lot. You come very prepared to this series and Marcus is no exception to that.”
Is Robert Wickens going to provide input for Indy?
“He’s had input at pretty much every race so far, even the ones he hasn’t been at personally. He’s a huge asset to the team. He’s a huge asset to Marcus, having done literally exactly the same thing 12 months ago. I think they even spoke last night on the phone to get ready for today. Robby is still very much present on the team.”
What you expect coming back to Texas Motor Speedway in June with the new rules package?
“Ultimately, we’re trying to make the race as entertaining as possible for the fans and as safe as possible for the drivers. If that requires a couple tweaks here and there, so be it. We obviously came here last year with a new aero kit so, with a year’s experience under our belt, we’re making some changes for this year. I think they’re in the right direction, for sure, and I’m looking forward to a good exciting Texas. This place has always been known for some of the most exciting oval racing in the INDYCAR Series and I think, with the changes they’ve made, this will be no exception.”
Does not winning the race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2016 still bother you?
“Honestly, I’ve watched the ’16 race over a hundred times. You lose sleep over races where you made mistakes and cost yourself a win but there was literally nothing else we could have done different as a team and myself as a driver. Those last nine laps, whatever it was after that restart, I was trying to drive three cars at once. I was trying to drive Tony’s (Kanaan) car. I was trying to drive Graham’s (Rahal) car and I was trying to drive my own car. Like I said, I’ve done it a hundred times and there’s just no way that race played out any differently unless it was one lap shorter or one lap longer, we’d have won it. But it is what it is so, yeah, we’re definitely looking forward to make some redemption for that one.
Ben Hanlen (No. 81 DragonSpeed)
How is your first oval racing test so far?
“It was rReally strange at first. The first four or five laps we did was really odd and difficult to feel the car at first because everything’s new … the banking, the g’s are different, the load on the car is different. So, yeah, you’ve really got to respect the speeds that you’re doing and the track that you’re on and build it up slowly so that’s what we have been trying to do this morning.”
How many laps did you put in in the morning session?
“I don’t know. We did four or five runs maybe like 40, 50 laps. Like I said, we’re just taking it real easy and building up and building the speeds up. We keep making a small change each time we box the car so I know, one thing at a time, what those changes are going to do. We run at a really high speed so those small changes make a big difference than on the usual circuits. We’re trying to learn as much as we can but at the same time, not trying to go too fast too quick at the same time.
How difficult is it to know your first oval race is going to be the Indianapolis 500?
“Difficult but it’s our first everything this year. New team, new car, so it’s the first time we went to St. Pete, the first time we went to Barber. Today is the first oval test I’ve done, the team has done and the engineers have done. Everything is a first for us this year so it’s so important we maximize the time that we’ve got in the five races we’re doing this year and learn as much as we can to put us in a better position to start next year.”
What is your biggest concern about the Indy 500?
“At the moment, everything is new to me so we’re running on our own today to just get confidence in the car and confidence in myself and be relaxed in the driving position with the headrest and steering angles and things like that. I’m just trying to take it each session at a time at the moment and, like I said, just keep learning bit by bit and build up to the race week. There’s plenty of time testing at the race week. We know it’s going to be a massive job but we’re really excited to be here.”
Colton Herta (No. 88 Harding Steinbrenner Racing)
How did your morning test session go?
“It’s crazy. I’ve never gone this fast before. It’s definitely a big step up from anything I’ve done so kinda taking it in baby steps and kinda slowly moving up through the ranks, taking a little downforce off as we go and trying to get as quick as possible.”
Do you know how fast you got today? “We haven’t gone full trim yet so I think we’ve gone maybe 217 (mph), 218 on new tires and probably hovering around 214, 215 on old tires.”
What’s it like preparing for your first INDYCAR Series oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
“It’s going to be crazy for my first oval race in an Indy Car to be there. I’m really looking forward to it. Obviously, coming here, we’re learning a little bit about the track but just getting me ready for Indy. Obviously, conditions are going to be quite a bit different in June when we’re racing here. It’s probably going to be hotter and I’m almost positive it’s not going to be as cool as this.”
Is your season going the way you expected or better?
“Probably better pace-wise. Obviously, the results haven’t been there for the last two rounds … but we’ve been fast everywhere we’ve gone and we’ve had the pace to make the Fast 6 everywhere we’ve gone, whether it’s happened or not. That’s the main thing. We can learn to race from here but, if we can be fast everywhere, that’s huge.”
Who is giving you the best advice, your dad (former INDYCAR driver Bryan Herta) or driving coach Al Unser, Jr.?
“Probably Al. My dad kinda stays with Marco (Andretti) on his end of the pits. Obviously Al has done a pretty tremendous job at Indy. He knows his way around there. He also knows his way around here, as well so, obviously, he has a vast majority of the knowledge I need to kinda be quick around here. Just kinda learning from him as much as I can. He chimes in as much as he can when he sees stuff that he needs to be telling me about. Really trying to process the stuff he’s telling me and put it into the race track is a whole other thing.”
Is winning the Indianapolis 500 the next step?
“That and the championship win. I really want to win here, though. I want to shoot the pistols. That’s such a cool thing. Obviously an Indy 500 win would top everything. That’s the whole reason we do that. It’s to win Indy. It’s such a marquee event and I think the biggest race in the world in all of motorsports.
” You keep using the word crazy. Is that way you look at this first season? “It is. I think just letting people go around a track (Texas Motor Speedway) this fast is a bit nutty, don’t you think? The fact that we enjoy it is a bit crazier. A lot of stuff has happened this year that we didn’t think was going to happen, whether it be good or bad, and we’ve definitely have a wave of emotions going up and down. Like I said, the main thing is we’ve been extremely fast everywhere we’ve gone and we’ve been in position to be in the top 3 in pace everywhere we’ve gone too so, if we can continue this trend, I’m sure we’ll be up in the podium spots again and, hopefully, up for another win this year.
Are you looking forward to racing under the lights when you’re racing here in June?
“That’s cool. I always love racing at night. It’s usually just short track racing that we get to do at night so to get to do it on a superspeedway like this is definitely unique. It’s obviously something different to come out on a Saturday night and have some fun with your friends.”The INDYCAR Series DXC Technology 600 weekend is scheduled for June 6-8 and will include the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Rattlesnake 400.
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