Strong test for Kanaan and Mo Nunn.

Tony Kanaan and the Mo Nunn Racing team head west this week for the annual CART Sneak Preview media days after a productive two-day test session at Homestead Miami Speedway last Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 30-31).

Kanaan put in 500 trouble-free miles on the 2.18-mile road course at Homestead over the two days, clocking a fast lap of 68.14 seconds that was surpassed only by Patrick Racing's Townsend Bell. Patrick Carpentier, Paul Tracy, Scott Dixon and Oriol Servia also tested Wednesday and Thursday.

"I'm absolutely wiped out, but I'm happy as I can be," a weary Kanaan said after the Homestead test. "I've got to take my hat off to (team owner) Morris (Nunn) for getting this team where it needs to be for things to really start happening this season. Iain (Watt), my new engineer (who recently came to MNR from Team Green) and I are definitely on the same page.

"We are communicating very, very well, and it seems like things are going better and better every lap around the track. The team has really come together. I'm not going to make any predictions, but I think this could be a good year for us."

Kanaan, under the direction of Nunn, Watt, team manager Brad Filbey, and chief mechanic Don Lambert, said he achieved significant gains in several areas, including aerodynamics, driveability and tires.

"Things are progressing rather well," said Nunn, who begins his third season as CART FedEx Championship Series team owner after four consecutive championship seasons at Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "We have tested well so far, and the team is really showing signs of a veteran team after two years of those kinds of struggles you really have to expect with a brand new organization."

The team next takes to the track Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 9-10) at Laguna Seca after two days of intensive preseason media interviews and photo shoots.