PALMETTO, Fla., Feb. 18 – Earning the 2008 team championship in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear was one thing; defending that title is another.
Andersen Racing continued to work towards that goal yesterday when it
conducted another test of two of its Star Mazda cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., some 193 miles from the team’s home base at Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla., and some 153 miles from the site of the Star Mazda season opener March 20 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.
After Adam Christodoulou and Conor Daly set the two fastest times at the series’ test Jan. 27-28 at Sebring for Andersen Racing, the team turned to Richard Kent and Denis Navarro to handle the driving duties for the Homestead test.
“We ran just two of our Star Mazda cars at Homestead yesterday, as the other two are in the final stages of winter rebuilds,” explained team co-owner Dan Andersen. “The team did its usual flawless job in preparation and implementation of another test day, and I was impressed with the entire day’s program and the results achieved by these two talented drivers. With the season beginning in four weeks, we’re ready and eager to race.
“Richard Kent, who competed with us last year and dominated the season finale, shook down his rebuilt race car and worked on a program involving the series’ new aero and suspension components,” Andersen continued. “Richard is a terrific driver, and his value as a test driver for the benefit of the entire team was excellent. We learned a lot.
“Denis tested with us for the first time,” Andersen said of Navarro. “He’s a product of Brazilian F3. He got up to speed quickly and demonstrated obvious talent by posting times by the end of the day that matched Richard’s. With more time in the car he will not only be a front-runner, but he’ll contend for victories all season. “It’s not that easy to jump into a different race car and be compared to a driver with Richard’s experience and results,” Andersen pointed. “Denis showed himself to be totally up to the task. We hope to add him to our roster for 2009.”
The team also tested its two Firestone Indy Lights cars at Homestead yesterday, with Jonathan Summerton and Mario Romancini behind the steering wheels of those Dallaras. The Firestone Indy Lights season opener is April 4-5 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. and it is the official development team of Rahal Letterman Racing. Drivers wishing to obtain more information about the team’s programs in karting, Formula BMW, Star Mazda and the Firestone Indy Lights Series may contact Andersen at dandersen@andersenracingteam.com or (201) 532-9630.
The team’s Web site is at andersenracingteam.com. Information on the team’s
1-mile road course test track at its headquarters in Palmetto, Fla. can be found online at andersenracepark.com.
