INDYCAR SERIES NEWS

Rahal Letterman Racing's Ryan Hunter-Reay logged almost 150 laps on the Phoenix International Raceway oval in his second off-season test in the No. 17 Team Ethanol Honda-powered Dallara.

"We had a good, productive test," said Hunter-Reay, the 2007 Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year. "We had a very specific checklist and the guys went through it thoroughly and worked really hard, trying a lot of different things to make the car better. Phoenix is a track that throws a lot of curveballs at you and I think we found a lot of things that will help us on the short ovals this year."

There are four short ovals on the schedule – The Milwaukee Mile, Iowa Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway.

"Ryan looked good in the car and put in a strong day, especially when you consider that he doesn't have a lot of short oval experience," Rahal Letterman Racing COO Scott Roembke said. "It is quite a commitment to come clear across the country for a one-day test, but the track was in great shape and we got a lot done. We found quite a few things that are going to benefit us when we get to tracks like Milwaukee and Richmond."

Hunter-Reay participated in the test with Andretti Green Racing teammates Danica Patrick and Hideki Mutoh. All three drivers will participate in IndyCar Series Open Tests on the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval (Feb. 27-28) and the Sebring International Raceway road course (March 3-6). The season opener is March 29 under the lights on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval.