Mick Schumacher Gains Confidence in IndyCar Oval Testing at Phoenix
Phoenix Raceway (Avondale, Ariz.) – Former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher continues to adapt to oval racing as he prepares for his rookie IndyCar Series season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Recent testing at Phoenix Raceway showed continued progress for the 26-year-old German driver, building on an earlier solo test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Building Oval Experience
Schumacher completed 222 laps over three sessions at the 1-mile Phoenix tri-oval, finishing 18th on the combined speed chart with a fast lap of 171.076 mph (21.0408 seconds). Motorsport.com reports that despite limited running on Wednesday due to weather, the team found the testing effective.
“It was good,” Schumacher said. “We got not as much running (on Wednesday) simply due to the weather conditions, but what we did was very effective and the changes were very interesting. I think we’re confident we know how we seek to start our race weekend here, and take it from there.”
Learning the Nuances of Oval Racing
The Phoenix test marked Schumacher’s first time sharing the track with competitors during oval testing. He noted the difference in navigating a racing line with other cars present. Racer.com highlighted Schumacher’s focus on observing how experienced oval racers approach corners.
“Here, it’s just very short,” Schumacher explained. “The lap comes quick. They’re high-g (g-force) corners, which are very interesting to drive. I feel like what I’m most interested in is to witness how the other guys do it…. Looking at them actually drive on track and see how they approach some of those corners is impressive to see and hopefully, we’ll be able to get there by the race weekend.”
Working with a Spotter
At Phoenix, Schumacher also began working with spotter Jeff Troyer, a veteran known for his experience with oval racing. Troyer has previously worked with drivers like Oriol Servia, Tomas Scheckter, and Josef Newgarden. The test provided Schumacher with his first experience utilizing a spotter’s feedback on track conditions and traffic.
Troyer recounted an instance where Schumacher adjusted to a close call by letting the car drift up the track to scrub off speed, which resulted in picking up tire marbles and momentarily losing control. Motorsport.com quoted Troyer, “He did keep it off the fence, but he got offline, he picked up some clag on the tires and he found out what it’s like to get offline.”
Looking Ahead
Schumacher expressed enthusiasm for the challenge of oval racing and the progress his team is making. “It’s fun,” he said. “A new challenge is always good. As a team, we’re working really hard to get everything done and sorted for our first oval race that we’re going to have here in a couple weeks. Yeah, I think we’re in a good place to learn and get everything done for the first oval race.” Fox Sports reported on the team’s efforts to find a second racing line on the track.