Alex Lloyd eyes move up to Indy Cars
Q. Ultimately the role of the Pro Series is to give guys the opportunity to move up to the next level. Last week, you had an opportunity to test an IndyCar. Tell us about that.
ALEX LLOYD: "It's been an amazing couple of weeks for me. I got my first IndyCar test at Sebring, and that was very special for me, especially racing with Chip Ganassi Racing. They're one of the biggest teams in the IndyCar Series, and one I've always dreamt of driving for.
"To get a call from them saying, 'We want to put you in our car alongside Scott Dixon," and you go out there, and I've got an opportunity to show the best team out there and share a car with one of the best guys out there and show them what I can do, and I have an opportunity to learn as much as I can off these guys, that was a great experience. The car is a fantastic car to drive.
"I think one of the things I learned from this is that these cars, the Indy Pro Series, prepares you well for the IndyCar Series. I felt completely at home when I got in the car. Obviously there's more horsepower, more grip, but it only took me a handful of laps before I was right there and feeling competitive, and then I spent the rest of my time learning and working on the car to suit my driving style.
"So that's, again, one of the greatest things the Pro Series is there for is to train drivers, and for me it's done a great job. Great to have done that test now, and I'm looking forward to more tests."
Q. Alex, got anything planned for next year to move up into the (IndyCar) Series?
ALEX LLOYD: "There is a lot of interest at the moment. We're really you know, I'm not rushing into anything too much at the moment. I'm just waiting to see what's around the corner. But like I say, the great thing is I've had a lot of people call me up, asking me what my plans are, and I'm just going to wait and see how things unfold and try and pick the best ride that's available for me.
"I've got a lot of confidence that I'll be in the IndyCar Series next year, where is still a little bit unknown but for me. It's important to try and get myself in a race winning car so I can compete and try and get some race wins. We'll see where we end up, but so far things are looking promising."
Manning, who joined A.J. Foyt Racing this season talked about how the team is taking 2007 as a building year.
Q. You mentioned the results this year aren't quite what you were hoping for, but do you feel you're laying the groundwork for next year?
DARREN MANNING: "Absolutely. It literally has been. It's been, "I wish we could start the weekend over again right now. It's been very difficult to carry anything over. Some of the big changes at the beginning of the year from Homestead to Motegi to Indy was a big learning curve for us; those things carry forward. But we got to a stage after Indy trying to get the fine tuning settled on the car, and that last little bit of speed, which is nearly impossible to do.
"We always would finish the weekend saying, at least we know we're going to be alright next year when we come back to these tracks, and it's not very good to be saying that but, you know, we've got to look at where they're coming from over the last few years of parking the car nearly every other weekend because of set ups and speed and crashes.
"If you look at it on paper, from where they're coming from, we're right to be looking at it as a building year, and that's pretty much what we're doing, and when we get our chances, we are racing right up front with them."