Preparations have begun for the 2008 Champ Car Atlantic Championship got underway early for Walker Racing, as the team tested two hopefuls at Putnam Park near Indianapolis.
Star Mazda Series stand-outs Alex Ardoin and Ron White joined the established team for two days of running at the road course as part of Walker's joint programme with Performance Friction Brakes to unearth future talent.
“Our main objective was to have a test that gives these drivers looking to get into Atlantics an introduction not only to the car and the series, but to the team as well, and we fulfilled that goal,” stated team owner Derrick Walker.
Ardoin and White were suggested to Walker by Performance Friction Brakes, but the ex-pat Scot had already had both under his watchful eye with the intention of giving them a run in one of his cars.
“Derrick and his staff have been consulting PFC with the very Star Mazda driver candidates that we have been looking at," PFB's director of motorsports Darrick Dong revealed, "We supplied them a list of who we liked and it was the very same people whom they liked. We have five to six drivers on our radar and the Putnam test is just the first step as we progress through the evaluation process.”
Californian White gained momentum throughout the test and topped the timecharts all day.
“Everything went really well and it was a great test for my first time in an Atlantic car," the 26-year old commented, "It was definitely a good experience working with Walker Racing. I learned a lot in a short time, it was an exciting car and an overall great test.”
Ardoin made his first acquaintance with an Atlantic car at Putnam, but adjusted quickly to the more powerful machine.
“I had a great experience," he admitted, "The whole Walker Racing team was very professional. They got me fitted and acquainted right away with the team. I spent Thursday observing and was really impressed with their professionalism. It really helped having Simon [Pagenaud] on hand - he showed us a lot of great things and I definitely learned a lot.”
![Walker Racing Champ Car Atlantic transporter [pic courtesy Champ Car Atlantic Championship]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/286234.jpg)
