Six different drivers completed a private test day at The Thermal Club on Tuesday, hitting the track at IndyCar’s new winter home.
Some of the drivers participating are hoping their performances will put them in line for one of the remaining open seats on the 2025 grid, while others sampled the machinery for the first time.
The most high profile driver in the test was Logan Sargeant, who raced with the Williams Racing F1 team for 2023 and most of the 2024 season.
Sargeant was released from Williams after the Dutch Grand Prix, and so was available to spend Tuesday wheeling a Meyer Shank Racing Honda IndyCar around the southern California track.
Sargeant completed a hefty sum of laps by time the day was done and ended up with the third fastest lap, keeping in mind that times are unofficial in private test sessions.
“It was definitely fun,” said Sargeant after the first portion of his run was complete. “Relatively what I expected, it’s just a unique characteristic car to drive.
“I feel like there’s still a good ways to go to get everything out of it. I’m starting to feel more comfortable by the end of the morning, and we’ll see what we can do in the next couple sessions.”
Fighting for open race seats
Enzo Fittipaldi was on track with Arrow McLaren, running his second ever IndyCar test while in a schedule break waiting for the final two round of the Formula 2 season in early December.
His brother Pietro Fittipaldi has been active in IndyCar in recent years and just finished competing a full season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Neither brother has yet confirmed plans for next year.
Hunter McElrea stepped into an Ed Carpenter Racing seat for the day with Toby Sowery turning laps with Dale Coyne Racing.
Both drivers have extensive IndyNXT experience and were able to secure their first races in IndyCar with DCR last season.
McElrea and Sowery would both very much like to make their way onto the grid next season in a more permanent role.
With only five remaining openings at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing, and DCR, however, options are running thin.
Felipe Nasr, a veteran of Formula 1, Formula E, and IMSA, spent the day driving a Team Penske Chevrolet, which aligns with his recent sportscar ambitions with Porsche.
Nasr set the fastest lap of the day by a narrow margin, with McElrea setting the second fastest time in the ECR Chevy.
Louis Foster was also on track, and was the only driver present to have already secured a spot on the 2025 grid.
Foster turned laps with RLL, and used the opportunity to familiarize himself with his new team ahead of his series debut in March.
The Thermal Club, a testing and exhibition venue for the past couple years, will host a full round of the 2025 IndyCar championship next season with the race taking place on March 23.
