Simona De Silvestro is back behind the wheel of an IndyCar this weekend, the first time she has driven any race in the series apart from the Indy 500 since 2015.
She was behind the wheel in the Paretta Autosport entry, with plans to take part in three races this season.
De Silvestro was gifted an extended practice session this weekend, with 75 minutes being devoted to Friday running instead of the usual 45 minutes.
She used the extra time to build up her confidence in the car again, but still ended up finishing last on the timesheets.
Speaking after the session, the 33-year-old related that the car was a handful at first, but she grew accustomed to it quickly and hopes to be further up the order for the rest of the weekend.
“I felt like I went out in the session and literally the car was driving me,” said De Silvestro. “Just getting used to everything.
“It was really the first day back I think after seven years in an IndyCar. It feels pretty familiar, but definitely I think to really be where I want to be, I’m going to hopefully sleep over it and be better tomorrow. A bit more acclimated, I would say.
“I haven’t driven a car with a lot of downforce since a long time. That’s something to get used to again. The car takes it, but you just have to kind of trust it.
“I feel like that’s also where, looking at the data, is where I need to work more on. So, yeah, I think those are the things. The slow stuff seems pretty good, but it’s really just having the confidence in the car and just kind of sending it at the moment.
“I don’t want to be last, but I think we weren’t too far off in the sense. I think there’s a few things that I really need to clean up driving-wise, just getting used to it.”
De Silvestro will join the other 26 drivers in a second practice session on Saturday morning before taking part in a knockout qualifying session later in the day.
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