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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Tung Finishes First Test With FAZZT
GP2 racer Ho-Pin Tung tells SPEED.com "I was very impressed with how the IndyCar handled and performed. I’m very pleased with how the test went."
With his career on track after fracturing his back in a GP2 crash in July, Ho-Pin Tung is now considering a move to the IZOD IndyCar Series. (FAZZT Race Team)
Dutch-Chinese racer Ho-Pin Tung’s possible switch to the IZOD IndyCar Series took another positive step on Friday thanks to Bowers & Wilkins, sponsors of Alex Tagliani’s IndyCar team.
The GP2 veteran completed what all involved considered to be a successful test at Sebring International Raceway onboard Tagliani’s B&W Dallara-Honda, logging 211 laps over two days with a best time of 53.5 seconds just days after placing 14th in the GP2 season finale at Abu Dhabi.
With three years of GP2 experience behind him, in addition to two seasons in the A1GP series and a year in the Superleague Formula, Tung arrived at Sebring with a resume filled with open-wheel experience. A second-place finish at the 2008 Monaco GP2 sprint race ranks as Tung’s top result in F1’s training ground series, and his F1 tests with Renault, Sauber and Williams have also added to his depth of knowledge.
His 2010 season was cut short on July 31st where Tung suffered a fractured vertebra after collecting a spinning car during the Hungaroring GP2 round. Driving for the Renault F1-affiliated DAMS team at the time, Tung was forced to sit on the sidelines while recovering from his back injury.
Doctors expected him to miss the remainder of the season, but a last-minute call from the Racing Engineering team to replace their regular driver Christian Vietoris who was suffering from appendicitis found Tung behind the wheel last weekend.
Tung’s 14th at Abu Dhabi—achieved with no testing since his crash in July—confirmed he was ready to resume his racing career, and by looking west for new career opportunities, Tagliani says Tung and his team find themselves moving in the same direction.
“The biggest thing is that as a team, we’re trying to expand to a two-car operation. We’ve been looking around, and there’s a connection between Joe Atkins (owner and chairman of Bowers & Wilkins) and Ho-Pin, and now there’s a possibility of him being my teammate in the future. We still have to look at all the opportunities for new drivers because we want to become a more powerful team, and from my position, I think having someone like Ho-Pin would be a breath of fresh air for the series. He is very good and very fast, and could also bring more diversity and interest to IndyCar racing.”
Tagliani stressed the fact that nothing has been signed between the two parties, but as the French-Canadian explains, expanding to a two-car operation would allow his team to pose a greater threat to the older and more established teams in IndyCar racing.
“Even the slight chance of doing two cars makes me very happy. One year ago we were staring into a shop that had nothing in it. All we had was epoxy floors last November! Now, one year later, we have come very far and I think having someone like Ho-Pin who is ready to decide on where he wants to take his career—having him think of FAZZT Race Team as maybe a place he wants to make his home is very satisfying. We couldn’t even think that far ahead last year, but as you know, it’s very hard for one-car teams to win in IndyCar. I think if we could have two cars, we can do even better next year.”
For Tung, his first taste of driving an IndyCar met all of his expectations.
“I have to say the team prepared me very, very well. Sebring is a very different place than I’m used to, but I was very impressed with how the IndyCar handled and performed. I’m very pleased with how the test went.”
The current Dallara GP2 car, powered by a 600-horsepower Renault V8 engine, has a number of performance similarities to the 650-horsepower Dallara-Honda used in the IZOD IndyCar Series, but the differences between the two cars were just enough to require Tung to make numerous changes to his driving style.
Not only is the Dallara IndyCar significantly heavier when filled with fuel, it is also physically larger and does not use a few of the items that are permitted in GP2, such as carbon brakes and tire warmers.
“There were a lot of things for me to learn, like braking,” Tung said. “I’ve been used to carbon brakes for the last few years, so going back to steel brakes was quite a transition for me. It took a few laps to get used to those, and I’m still learning, but altogether, I think I got to grips with the car quite quickly and we were able to start doing development work for the car for next year very early in the test. In the end, it’s just another racing car, and they all have their particular traits, but you’re still pushing trying to find their limits.”
After sampling Firestone’s IndyCar tires for the first time, Tung says he took a cautious approach initially as he did not want to damage the tires while learning the car and the circuit.
“Every tire has a different way of how it operates, and I had to feel for what the Firestones needed in that way. They were slightly different than the Bridgestone tires we use in GP2, but also similar in some ways. Without the tire blankets here that also took some time to get used to. Getting the most out of the tires right away is something I could learn more about.”
Tung also says he was quite impressed with the 3.4 liter Honda V8 engine.
“I spoke with the Honda guys for a while before the test, and found the [power] output to be very nice and very smooth. It was quite pleasant to drive, and that’s important. It wasn’t too peaky with the power and I liked how it revved.”
Flying to FAZZT’s facility in Indianapolis, IN., immediately after the conclusion of the final Abu Dhabi GP2 race, Tung spent time getting to know the team before they headed south for the test at Sebring.
“There are so many things to learn with the team when you come to do a first test. I spent a lot of time with them at the shop starting on Monday, and talked a lot with the engineer, Allan [McDonald], and Alex. He gave me advice on the track, and in the debrief sessions too. Everyone at FAZZT has been really friendly and very helpful, and I think that contributed to a good performance in the end.”
Team manager Rob Edwards says Tung blended into the team with little effort.
“Right from when he first came to the shop, we were very impressed. His English is very, very good. He’s highly schooled in this sport with his time in GP2 and other categories, and has also tested many times with F1 teams. His technical feedback was extremely good and very precise. Anyone that comes from that sort of background has developed very articulate and good skills on how to work with engineers and such. We’ve tried to build the team from sound principals from the very beginning, and he fits that model. He presents himself very well, and is very polished and prepared”
Edwards also says that from his initial impressions, Tung would be a good fit for the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“He had a few things to get used to like getting more heat into the tires before you lean on the car, but he settled in very quickly and had a very productive first day. He clearly has a lot of potential.”
Tung spent time during his stay in Indianapolis to visit IndyCar’s most hallowed grounds, and came away with a healthy dose of respect for what it takes to turn into Turn 1 at 230 miles per hour.
“I was lucky enough to go to the Speedway just a few days ago, and someone from the series was able to take me around for a few laps. It was just a magic feeling. I was almost closing my eyes trying to imagine what it would be like to race there, with all the audience there. I have a lot of friends who race in the IndyCar Series and they all tell me it’s the most incredible race you’ll do in your life; it’s the most amazing feeling. I can imagine now after visiting the Speedway and after driving an IndyCar what it would be like to race there next year. I really hope that is something I can do.”
If FAZZT is able to field a team with Tung alongside Tagliani next year, Edwards says he’ll look forward to the unique mix of character traits the French-Canadian and Dutch-Chinese drivers would offer.
“For me, that’s part of the enjoyment. We were joking earlier today that between the two of them, they speak at least half a dozen languages, and they are very different personalities, which is good. If we had two Alex’s…we’d have our hands full…” he said with a laugh.
FAZZT expects to reveal its 2011 plans shortly.
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com’s Auto Racing Editor and also covers IndyCar and sports car racing for the site. Pruett grew up at ‘Pruett's Olde English Garage,’ his father's shelter for abused foreign cars, and spent his childhood being dragged across the West Coast to help with his dad's amateur racing exploits.
Pruett spent 20 years working in the IRL, CART, IMSA, and most of the known open-wheel feeder series before retiring from active duty in 2001. And in case you were wondering, he isn’t related to Scott Pruett.
Marshall lives in Northern California with his wife Shabral, and can be e-mailed and you can also harass him on Twitter .
The GP2 veteran completed what all involved considered to be a successful test at Sebring International Raceway onboard Tagliani’s B&W Dallara-Honda, logging 211 laps over two days with a best time of 53.5 seconds just days after placing 14th in the GP2 season finale at Abu Dhabi.
With three years of GP2 experience behind him, in addition to two seasons in the A1GP series and a year in the Superleague Formula, Tung arrived at Sebring with a resume filled with open-wheel experience. A second-place finish at the 2008 Monaco GP2 sprint race ranks as Tung’s top result in F1’s training ground series, and his F1 tests with Renault, Sauber and Williams have also added to his depth of knowledge.
His 2010 season was cut short on July 31st where Tung suffered a fractured vertebra after collecting a spinning car during the Hungaroring GP2 round. Driving for the Renault F1-affiliated DAMS team at the time, Tung was forced to sit on the sidelines while recovering from his back injury.
Doctors expected him to miss the remainder of the season, but a last-minute call from the Racing Engineering team to replace their regular driver Christian Vietoris who was suffering from appendicitis found Tung behind the wheel last weekend.
Tung’s 14th at Abu Dhabi—achieved with no testing since his crash in July—confirmed he was ready to resume his racing career, and by looking west for new career opportunities, Tagliani says Tung and his team find themselves moving in the same direction.
“The biggest thing is that as a team, we’re trying to expand to a two-car operation. We’ve been looking around, and there’s a connection between Joe Atkins (owner and chairman of Bowers & Wilkins) and Ho-Pin, and now there’s a possibility of him being my teammate in the future. We still have to look at all the opportunities for new drivers because we want to become a more powerful team, and from my position, I think having someone like Ho-Pin would be a breath of fresh air for the series. He is very good and very fast, and could also bring more diversity and interest to IndyCar racing.”
Tagliani stressed the fact that nothing has been signed between the two parties, but as the French-Canadian explains, expanding to a two-car operation would allow his team to pose a greater threat to the older and more established teams in IndyCar racing.
“Even the slight chance of doing two cars makes me very happy. One year ago we were staring into a shop that had nothing in it. All we had was epoxy floors last November! Now, one year later, we have come very far and I think having someone like Ho-Pin who is ready to decide on where he wants to take his career—having him think of FAZZT Race Team as maybe a place he wants to make his home is very satisfying. We couldn’t even think that far ahead last year, but as you know, it’s very hard for one-car teams to win in IndyCar. I think if we could have two cars, we can do even better next year.”
For Tung, his first taste of driving an IndyCar met all of his expectations.
“I have to say the team prepared me very, very well. Sebring is a very different place than I’m used to, but I was very impressed with how the IndyCar handled and performed. I’m very pleased with how the test went.”
The current Dallara GP2 car, powered by a 600-horsepower Renault V8 engine, has a number of performance similarities to the 650-horsepower Dallara-Honda used in the IZOD IndyCar Series, but the differences between the two cars were just enough to require Tung to make numerous changes to his driving style.
Not only is the Dallara IndyCar significantly heavier when filled with fuel, it is also physically larger and does not use a few of the items that are permitted in GP2, such as carbon brakes and tire warmers.
“There were a lot of things for me to learn, like braking,” Tung said. “I’ve been used to carbon brakes for the last few years, so going back to steel brakes was quite a transition for me. It took a few laps to get used to those, and I’m still learning, but altogether, I think I got to grips with the car quite quickly and we were able to start doing development work for the car for next year very early in the test. In the end, it’s just another racing car, and they all have their particular traits, but you’re still pushing trying to find their limits.”
After sampling Firestone’s IndyCar tires for the first time, Tung says he took a cautious approach initially as he did not want to damage the tires while learning the car and the circuit.
“Every tire has a different way of how it operates, and I had to feel for what the Firestones needed in that way. They were slightly different than the Bridgestone tires we use in GP2, but also similar in some ways. Without the tire blankets here that also took some time to get used to. Getting the most out of the tires right away is something I could learn more about.”
Tung also says he was quite impressed with the 3.4 liter Honda V8 engine.
“I spoke with the Honda guys for a while before the test, and found the [power] output to be very nice and very smooth. It was quite pleasant to drive, and that’s important. It wasn’t too peaky with the power and I liked how it revved.”
Flying to FAZZT’s facility in Indianapolis, IN., immediately after the conclusion of the final Abu Dhabi GP2 race, Tung spent time getting to know the team before they headed south for the test at Sebring.
“There are so many things to learn with the team when you come to do a first test. I spent a lot of time with them at the shop starting on Monday, and talked a lot with the engineer, Allan [McDonald], and Alex. He gave me advice on the track, and in the debrief sessions too. Everyone at FAZZT has been really friendly and very helpful, and I think that contributed to a good performance in the end.”
Team manager Rob Edwards says Tung blended into the team with little effort.
“Right from when he first came to the shop, we were very impressed. His English is very, very good. He’s highly schooled in this sport with his time in GP2 and other categories, and has also tested many times with F1 teams. His technical feedback was extremely good and very precise. Anyone that comes from that sort of background has developed very articulate and good skills on how to work with engineers and such. We’ve tried to build the team from sound principals from the very beginning, and he fits that model. He presents himself very well, and is very polished and prepared”
Edwards also says that from his initial impressions, Tung would be a good fit for the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“He had a few things to get used to like getting more heat into the tires before you lean on the car, but he settled in very quickly and had a very productive first day. He clearly has a lot of potential.”
Tung spent time during his stay in Indianapolis to visit IndyCar’s most hallowed grounds, and came away with a healthy dose of respect for what it takes to turn into Turn 1 at 230 miles per hour.
“I was lucky enough to go to the Speedway just a few days ago, and someone from the series was able to take me around for a few laps. It was just a magic feeling. I was almost closing my eyes trying to imagine what it would be like to race there, with all the audience there. I have a lot of friends who race in the IndyCar Series and they all tell me it’s the most incredible race you’ll do in your life; it’s the most amazing feeling. I can imagine now after visiting the Speedway and after driving an IndyCar what it would be like to race there next year. I really hope that is something I can do.”
If FAZZT is able to field a team with Tung alongside Tagliani next year, Edwards says he’ll look forward to the unique mix of character traits the French-Canadian and Dutch-Chinese drivers would offer.
“For me, that’s part of the enjoyment. We were joking earlier today that between the two of them, they speak at least half a dozen languages, and they are very different personalities, which is good. If we had two Alex’s…we’d have our hands full…” he said with a laugh.
FAZZT expects to reveal its 2011 plans shortly.
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com’s Auto Racing Editor and also covers IndyCar and sports car racing for the site. Pruett grew up at ‘Pruett's Olde English Garage,’ his father's shelter for abused foreign cars, and spent his childhood being dragged across the West Coast to help with his dad's amateur racing exploits.
Pruett spent 20 years working in the IRL, CART, IMSA, and most of the known open-wheel feeder series before retiring from active duty in 2001. And in case you were wondering, he isn’t related to Scott Pruett.
Marshall lives in Northern California with his wife Shabral, and can be e-mailed and you can also harass him on Twitter .
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