V8 Supercar drivers are agreed – it’s America the beautiful.
On a day Holden’s Craig Lowndes set the fastest time in practice on the V8s’ United States debut, the sport’s newest venue for international expansion won rave reviews from its first-time drivers.
Lowndes, who rocketed around the Circuit of the Americas in 1min 32.9042sec – the fastest time in the four practice sessions – likened its spectacular elevation changes to the iconic Bathurst.
Ford driver Will Davison, second fastest for the day, called it a circuit that needed to be driven “balls-out”.
Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander was third quickest in a Commodore which will soon be sold in the US as a Chevrolet, and emerged from the car convinced the American experiment will prove a great success.
“For us, it’s a massively worthwhile exercise … it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase Australian racing in America at a fantastic facility,” Tander said after a day on which several thousand fans watched their debut at the state-of-the-art track.
“I was absolutely blown away when I got on the plane just how many Australians were on the plane coming to the race.
“If that’s the measure of how this event has got the potential to grow over the next couple of years, it’s going to be a winner.”
Red Bull Racing’s Lowndes left it late, but still proved the star of the Lone Star state on day one.
His sizzling lap came in the final five minutes of the last session.
After drivers had struggled to go under 1min 35sec for most of the day in mid-30s temperatures, Lowndes put down a marker and held on as 10 drivers ploughed under 1:34 in quick succession.
“The next two days will be the show – we’ll go faster, no doubt about that,” Lowndes said of a day most teams were feeling their way around an unfamiliar track and conserving tyres for qualifying and the opening two races early on Sunday (AEST).
Lowndes’ teammate Jamie Whincup was well outside the top 10 on combined times from the four sessions, though tyre conservation and reconnaissance rather than speed appeared his goal.
Separate qualifying sessions will be held for all four races, with the final two races scheduled for early Monday (AEST).
