Today’s question: What caught your eye the most about the two-day NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group Test on Feb. 17-18 at Sebring International Raceway? (SEE: Sebring Day 1 Test Report | Sebring Day 2 Test Report)
Curt Cavin: There is much to digest even as drivers often say Sebring testing doesn’t translate to the season ahead. But I was struck by Marcus Armstrong’s Day 1 performance – he was second to Pato O’Ward -- and that supports what I’ve been thinking for weeks: Armstrong could be among the big gainers this season. Armstrong finished 13th in points last year with Chip Ganassi Racing, and his results were markably better year-over-year as he completed his first full season in the series. He had the first four top-five finishes of his young career, and he nearly doubled his top-10 output from 2023. Yes, Armstrong has moved to Meyer Shank Racing, but MSR’s technical alliance with CGR, which continues the pairing of Armstrong with engineer Angela Ashmore, is of significant value to his program. I’m expecting at least a couple of podium finishes this year from the 24-year-old New Zealander who won four races in Formula 2.
Eric Smith: It’s hard to decipher through test session reports because we don’t have a clear understanding of what teams are specifically working on – especially on a track in Sebring where the NTT INDYCAR SERIES doesn’t race. However, the fact similar names and cars were up front this year like last year at nearly the same time at Sebring is telling. Team Penske driver Will Power was quickest in this week’s test and second overall in 2024. Pato O’Ward was third in both years driving the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda was fourth both instances with Felix Rosenqvist driving last year and Marcus Armstrong driving the car to the fourth-quickest time Monday while Rosenqvist sat out due to illness. Two-time defending series champion Alex Palou was sixth last year and seventh this week driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. What’s all that mean? I’m thinking bigger picture with more parity. Last season featured seven different multiple-race winners. That’s only the second time in INDYCAR SERIES history, joining the 2019 season, that all race winners in a season won more than one race each. There were also eight different NTT P1 Award winners and eight teams represented in the top 13 in the championship. Similar test results could catapult to similar race results this upcoming season.
Paul Kelly: Conor Daly caught my eye at Sebring. Not because of a new hairstyle or because of something funny he said or posted on social media. No, Daly’s pace drew my attention. He was fourth-quickest Monday and improved upon that time Tuesday – as did nearly every one of the 27 drivers at the test – and ended up 10th overall. That’s pretty impressive for a guy who I think is incorrectly labeled as an “oval specialist.” Yes, Daly’s only career NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole came at the Iowa Speedway bullring in 2020. Yes, he finished third in the first race of the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader late last season. And, yes, he has finished in the top 10 four times in his 11 Indianapolis 500 starts, including the last three years in a row. But the guy can drive on left and right turns, too. His only previous podium finish before last season was second in 2016 at Belle Isle in Detroit. He won a GP3 race in 2012 at Barcelona. He won the 2010 Star Mazda title in a schedule that featured just two ovals among its 13 races. Cut to the chase, and I think this could be the breakthrough season Daly has coveted for the last decade. He’s 33 and is the most experienced driver in the Juncos Hollinger Racing lineup. It’s arguably the first time he’s been a de facto team leader, and I think that will help him punch above the expected weight of JHR in 2025.