Herbert impresses in Rockingham test.
Johnny Herbert is reported to have matched CART regular Alex Barron for pace on his first outing in a Champcar yesterday [Tuesday].
The former Formula One star has been contesting selected sportscar races this year, after plans to move across the Atlantic to the CART FedEx series fizzled out over the winter, but has not given up on his dream of competing in the American series.
Johnny Herbert is reported to have matched CART regular Alex Barron for pace on his first outing in a Champcar yesterday [Tuesday].
The former Formula One star has been contesting selected sportscar races this year, after plans to move across the Atlantic to the CART FedEx series fizzled out over the winter, but has not given up on his dream of competing in the American series.
Initially rumoured to have been close to a test with the new Sigma Autosport outfit, Herbert jumped at the chance to run at Britain's newest circuit - and first modern oval - at Rockingham, when Dale Coyne offered him a place alongside Barron at an official tyre test.
Herbert, who is currently slated to contest the remainder of the American Le Mans Series with the Champion Racing team that fielded him at Le Mans in June, ran in hot conditions after lunch, piloting the 2000-spec Lola-Ford that Barron took so close to victory in last season's CART finale.
Although neither driver is thought to have taken the car to its limits around the 1.5mile oval, both were clocked in the 195mph range.
Herbert is due to test an Indy Racing League car on 13 August, in his search for a berth in next year's Indianapolis 500.
