de Ferran

PHOENIX -- Other than philosophically, one of the major differences between Championship Auto Racing Teams and the Indy Racing League is technical. A CART champ car sports more horsepower and less downforce than an IRL Indy car and is regarded as a tougher to drive.

But, on a challenging oval like Phoenix International Raceway, the IRL cars certainly aren't tame as they charge into the first turn at 190 mph.

Their overall lap times are only four mph off the record speeds set by CART here in 1995 and watching them flash through the corners is breathtaking.

"On the shorter ovals, like Phoenix, the toughest thing at first is learning to believe you could go that fast into the corner," said Gil de Ferran, the two-time CART champion who finished third in the standings last year in his initial IRL season.

"The sheer speed and grip takes a little time to get used to because the G forces you pull are astonishing."

Coming to grips with their new environment is what Michael Andretti, Kenny Brack, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan have been doing for the past two days here at PIR.

They've joined Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves and de Ferran in leaving CART for the all-oval series and, as expected, are all making a fast transition.

"It's an open wheel race car and going to the limit of the race car is what it's all about. It's either going to push or be loose but it all feels the same," said Andretti, CART's all-time winner who hasn't raced here since the IRL took over in 1996.

"It feels like it used to in the mid-90s. The same amount of downforce we had and slower on the straightaways. It didn't take Dario or Tony long to adapt."

Franchitti, whose road racing prowess earned him 10 CART wins from 1997-2002, agreed with de Ferran that it's a matter of trust.

"Maybe it's my lack of experience but these cars get your attention in a different way on an oval," said the Scotsman who teams with Kanaan and drives for Andretti. "A champ car goes so quick down the straightaway and it's a bit more gradual as you turn in.

"But here with these cars you turn in and just give the throttle a little bit of lift. So, when one of these IRL cars starts to break away, you're going much quicker. Like I said, it gets your attention."

Kanaan never raced here in CART but tested several times in a champ car and made the following comparison.

"It's like waking up with a cup of water for six years and suddenly you start drinking milk every morning. I always lifted going into the corners here in my champ car and it's tough to make yourself believe you can run wide open but, after you get used to it, it's easy," said the 28-year-old Brazilian who's only CART win came in the Michigan 500.

"It's more challenging because you have got to have the car just right, there are no miracles."

Brack is the only one of the talent exodus from CART who started in the IRL so he's got a little different frame of reference.

"Obviously, on a short oval the cornering speeds in an IRL car are extremely fast compared to a champ car and they're both fairly easy to drive on superspeedways like Fontana and Michigan," said the 1999 Indy 500 winner and 1998 IRL champion.

"I can't say the power of these cars has changed much since I left but the cars are more refined than they used to be. They're not as refined as champ cars in some areas but they're definitely improved.

"You could run two abreast when I was running here before and I don't think that's changed."

The IRL opened its Test in the West last week on the two-mile California Speedway at Fontana and speeds reached 225 mph. It's the only track both open-wheel series share and CART staged its best race there in 2002.

But Kanaan says the difference between the two cars can be measured in heart rate.

"It's 10 times more comfortable to run an IRL car in traffic at Fontana," he said. "You were always scaring yourself in a champ car at Fontana and I think you'll be able to race these IRL cars better.

"The only big difference is when you have to lift off the throttle. You really lose your momentum in an IRL car and that's where you really feel a CART car's power."

Andretti, whose excellent career will come to an end following his last shot at winning the Indy 500, enjoys the 2003 IRL chassis much better than the old model.

"I like 'em," said the 40-year-old legend. "They're fun to drive and I think they'll be fun to race."

Toyota, Honda rule
After three days of testing in Fontana and Phoenix, it's obvious Honda and Toyota are making more power than Chevrolet.

The two Japanese manufactuers left CART and turbocharged engines for the IRL this season but their new normally-aspirated motors have dominated the speed charts and put a worried look on the Chevy customers.

In every practice period, Honda and Toyota posted the top-10 fastest times -- with two-time IRL champ Sam Hornish managing to secure the 11th slot on Saturday afternoon for Chevy's best showing.

Educated guesses from mechanics and drivers in the Phoenix paddock say Honda and Toyota own a 15-20 horsepower advantage heading into the season opener next month at Homestead, Fla.

Hornish's car owners insist they'll stand by Chevrolet and their three-year contract. But A.J. Foyt already dumped General Motors for Toyota and a Japanese driver (Shigeaki Hattori) and Hornish would be a valued property for Honda or Toyota.

Other notes
The Lazier brothers are in limbo three weeks away from the IRL opener.

Buddy Lazier, the 2000 IRL champion, is curently a spectator because longtime owner Ron Hemelgarn has no sponsor and, evidently, no contingency plan.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I'm hungrier than ever and I want to drive," said the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner. "But this is frustrating, to say the least."

Younger brother Jaques Lazier, who suffered a broken back in an accident last year at Nazareth and missed the rest of the season, was replaced by Brazil's Vitor Meira. Both drove last week at Fontana and at Phoenix.

However, Menard has yet to exercise his option on Lazier and both drivers are wondering about their futures.