By Dave Lewandowski

In the IZOD IndyCar Series season opener, the test preceded the lessons.

Four drivers competed in their first series race (plus 2007 Firestone Indy Lights champion Alex Lloyd participating in his first street/road course event) March 14 in the São Paulo Indy 300 with mixed results but experience to transfer to the next event on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

“I am glad to get this first weekend finished,” said Mario Romancini, a two-time Firestone Indy Lights race winner in 2009 who was driving the No. 34 Conquest Racing entry. “Everything was new to me and we experienced some difficulties, preventing us from running as much as we would have liked each practice session. In the IZOD IndyCar Series, I understand now, more than ever, how important it is to get as many laps as possible to help understand the track and fully understand what to expect from the race car.

“I guess I got to experience a lot of scenarios this first weekend in IndyCar. Our lap times got better as the day went on and I was getting more confidence in myself and in the car. With this first race behind us now, I am really looking forward to the next race at St. Petersburg in a couple of weeks.”

Romancini and Lloyd (two-time race winner at St. Pete) are familiar with the layout, while Simona De Silvestro and Takuma Sato will attempt to gather as much information from previous years’ data and three practice sessions on March 26-27 preceding qualifications. Additionally, Ana Beatriz, who competed in her hometown in Brazil and has driven at St. Pete the past two years in Firestone Indy Lights, is seeking to extend her program with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

De Silvestro became the first driver to lead a lap in their debut race since Graham Rahal at St. Petersburg in 2008. De Silvestro started 11th in the No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing car and led Lap 24-28 of 61. The car experienced rear suspension issues that required a lengthy pit stop and she finished 16th.

“I think we can be pretty competitive during the year,” she said. “Now we just have to continue to work real hard and I’m sure we’ll go in the right direction.”

Sato, driving the No. 5 KV Racing Technology car, started 10th but was involved in a first-lap multi-car incident.

“It was not a good memory for my first IZOD IndyCar Series race, but seeing (teammate) E.J. (Viso) finish solid (12th) and the KVRT team working well together makes me feel overall that we have learned a lot and I look forward to my next race in St. Petersburg,” he said.

source http://www.indycar.com