Mauricio passes rookie test.
Ricardo Mauricio has passed the speed phase of his Indy Racing League rookie test while running with the crack Red Bull Cheever team at Kentucky Speedway.
The Brazilian F3000 veteran completed 100 laps in the #51 Cheever Dallara-Infiniti, clocking a fastest unofficial speed of 220.6mph on the 1.5mile oval. Mark Bridges, technical manager for the Indy Racing League, observed the test, which Mauricio hopes will allow him to follow fellow countrymen Felipe Giaffone, Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves, among others, into the oval-only US series.
Ricardo Mauricio has passed the speed phase of his Indy Racing League rookie test while running with the crack Red Bull Cheever team at Kentucky Speedway.
The Brazilian F3000 veteran completed 100 laps in the #51 Cheever Dallara-Infiniti, clocking a fastest unofficial speed of 220.6mph on the 1.5mile oval. Mark Bridges, technical manager for the Indy Racing League, observed the test, which Mauricio hopes will allow him to follow fellow countrymen Felipe Giaffone, Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves, among others, into the oval-only US series.
"I was happy to stay around a few extra days for this opportunity," Mauricio said about the test, which was postponed from 26 September because of rain, "It was brilliant, and I enjoyed working with Cheever Racing and driving the Red Bull Indy car."
The 23-year old has driven for the Red Bull Junior Team in the FIA F3000 series since 1999, ending his 2002 season with a barrel-roll at Monza just days before his original test date.
