The opportunity for the 24-year-old Swede to get some extra running on Monday and Tuesday came about after hopes for track time in last month’s Daytona 24 Hours fell through.
Although Lundqvist has put in a significant amount of time in the simulator, he noted it is limited by Honda and that the focus is usually over run plans and various set-up concepts by the Ganassi engineers.
There have also been roughly a handful of on-track IndyCar tests, including completing the Rookie Orientation Program at Indianapolis last October, which was followed by a tyre test at Milwaukee and some hybrid running at Sebring. He also managed to get some laps at last month’s test at Homestead.
However, Lundqvist simply craves more track time having last competed in a race last August at the St. Louis oval, his last of three IndyCar starts with Meyer Shank Racing prior to signing with Chip Ganassi.
“Every driver is the same, we're just looking for laps in a race car because obviously in IndyCar you're very, very limited with the amount of test days that you get,” Lundqvist told Autosport.
“As a rookie you get one or two extra days, but it looks like we won't really use that until mid-season. So, I'm just looking to get as many laps as I can before St. Pete because now it's been a while. Last race I did was St. Louis and that's what, six, seven, eight months ago come St. Pete, so it was about time.”
Source: Autosport