As Team Penske’s director of competition, Kyle Moyer understands the value of testing and how it is the first step toward success on the racetrack. That's one reason why he was chosen to oversee the Chevrolet test team for the IndyCar 2018 universal aero kit test with two-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Juan Pablo Montoya as the driver.

Moyer gave the new car the ultimate compliment after its first day on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“If we had to race this car tomorrow, I would be happy to do that,” Moyer told Autoweek.

It would be hard to expect a better initial test of any new car design, especially one as dramatic as the 2018 universal aero kit that has combined the best look of past Indy cars along with some futuristic changes.

From a mechanical and technical standpoint, it should be a much better car for the teams to prepare and race.

“I think it’s an easy car to work on,” Moyer said. “There are less bits and that always makes it easier. I thought the test went good. We didn’t have any problems. We had a little issue with a wiring loom that we had to sort out. Once we got that sorted the car just ran and ran and ran and that is what you are hoping.

“There were no heating issues or anything.”

Moyer believes teams will have to think differently out of the box because the downforce is generated from the undertray -- not the rear wings.

“It’s a different car to drive because the aero package on it is different,” Moyer said. “Before, it was topside aero and you could take some of that off but with bottom aero, you don’t want to take any of that off because it is good downforce. But there will be some adjustments, and when it comes down to qualifying, it will be like normal here at Indy.

“It’s going to be the guy who can scare himself the most but keep the car off the wall.”

Moyer believes it’s important that IndyCar officials took a proactive approach to testing the new kit. Next Tuesday, the series tests the road-course kit at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and on Aug. 10 the short oval package will be tested at Iowa Speedway.

“IndyCar is on top of this now to get it right,” Moyer said. “They aren’t sitting around until October and November to figure out what we are doing now in August. It’s fantastic now that we are getting things in motion for next season.

“The car looks good. The biggest thing is the car looks different. If you are going to do something, do it different. The racing is fantastic now and I think this package will lend itself to a little better racing.”

Piers Phillips is the general manager of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and oversaw the Honda test team with driver Oriol Servia.

“Getting ready for Mid-Ohio is the priority for the team back at the shop, but to have the opportunity to be here with IndyCar and running the 2018 kit for the first time is a testament for the group to be considered to do this,” Phillips told Autoweek. “I suppose it’s a slight advantage to have experience with the kit earlier than other teams, but it is a negative before as we get ready for Mid-Ohio.”

Phillips has played a balancing act with his team and crew between Mid-Ohio and aero kit testing. The only issue the team experienced was an electrical box that needed to be replaced. Phillips brought three team engineers for the test and a skeleton crew composed of crew members from James Hinchcliffe’s car, Mikhail Aleshin’s crew and other team members from the shop.

“It was a brand-new component that went down, but it’s just one of those things,” Phillips said. “It was in a part of the car where it was hard to get to.”

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io