INDYCAR: Barrichello Among Five Drivers To Pass Indy ROP

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Barrichello Among Five Drivers To Pass Indy ROP

Dale Coyne Racing's James Jakes was the fastest of eight drivers that lapped Indy on Thursday, turning a best of 218.2 mph.

Robin Miller | Posted May 10, 2012

Rubens Barrichello was a fast learner during Rookie Orientation with help from his friend and teammate Tony Kanaan. (Photo: LAT)

After breezing through his rookie test Thursday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Rubens Barrichello hugged Tony Kanaan, engineer Eddie Jones, crew chief Chris Muir and the rest of his KV Racing crew before glancing at his cell phone.

“Twelve text messages from the wife, why would that be?’’ he said, breaking into a grin.

The most experienced driver in Formula One history, who once promised his wife he’d never drive on those crazy ovals, retained his sense of humor as well as his cool demeanor during his first day at Indy.

“My introduction to the Indy 500 went well,’’ said Barrichello, who reached a top speed of 214 mph during his 83 laps. ``I was able to run wide open and I didn’t have any big moments, it was a good day.

“I am so glad there is an ROP because I think I would have lost something without it. And running at Texas earlier this week also helped. It’s a new life and I’ve got the best teacher (Kanaan).’’

Kanaan, who has led 214 laps during his 10 Indy 500s, gave some advice to all eight rookies during the morning driver’s meeting before spending the day with his best buddy from Brazil.

“Most rookies are so tense here and Rubens was excited, almost anxious, to get out but he was very calm in the car,” said the 2005 pole-sitter who also started on the front row two other times. “He listened, felt everything in the car and did a good job.

“Then he started to get a little greedy and wanted to take more downforce out and I told him you are not going to go quicker than me on your first day.’’

Bryan Clauson, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and James Jakes also passed all three phases of the test and Michel Jourdain completed his refresher. Wade Cunningham got in two of three phases and Jean Alesi only got in 18 laps because of an issue with his Lotus’ turbo boost. But Cunningham and Alesi will be able to complete their runs Friday when ROP resumes.

PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Indy 500 ROP 2012

Jakes, who missed the show here a year ago, posted the day’s fastest lap of 218.268 mph in Dale Coyne’s Boys Scouts of America entry.

“You learn something every time you get on one of these (ovals),’’ said Jakes, who turned in some strong performances at the close of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar season. “This place is so narrow and you’ve got to get it right on entry but I felt like I had a good line and a good day.’’

Clauson, whose success in USAC as its overall champion opened the door for an Indy Lights ride in 2011 and a shot at Indy this year, only needed 54 laps to get through his test with a best circuit of 217 mph.

“I wasn’t nervous but I was excited to get going and I can put into words what it means to be driving an Indy car at Indianapolis,’’ said the 23-year-old native of Noblesville who is driving for Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman.

“Running here last year in a Lights car was huge because you know what it’s like getting into Turn 1. We had a lot of downforce in our car so getting flat at both ends wasn’t too difficult but that’s probably a false sense of security.’’

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