Though gasoline ranges and push-to-pass increase information was stored largely secret between the 5 groups that have been testing on the Sebring brief course, 28-year-old Blomqvist’s finest effort was zero.33 seconds away from his nearest opposition, System 2 race winner Juri Vips for Rahal Letterman Lanigan.
Afterward, Blomqvist – who completed runner-up to Esteban Ocon within the 2014 System three Euroseries – admitted that selecting up his open-wheel profession had sturdy attraction.
His final single-seater begin got here on the finish of the 2020-21 System E season with NIO 333, earlier than he selected to prioritise racing in IMSA for MSR.
“If the chance arose, I’d love to offer it a shot,” he stated when requested by Autosport in regards to the prospect of returning to single-seaters .
“Clearly within the sportscar stuff we’ve been doing not too long ago we’ve had plenty of success in a really brief time, and I actually do take pleasure in that form of racing, however I feel IndyCar’s one other step up when it comes to credibility. It’s a extra well-known collection.
“I feel for a profession, it’s one other step up and I feel as a racing driver you at all times wish to try to maintain working your approach as much as greater and higher issues, and I feel IndyCar is that, over right here in America.
“I’ve such reference to the crew and if I’m doing nicely, there are alternatives for me. Clearly it comes all the way down to each events however for me, feeling like I could be assured in doing the job.”
Blomqvist labored with Garett Mothersead, Simon Pagenaud’s race engineer at Meyer Shank Racing.
Picture by: Meyer Shank Racing
With regards to what could be the subsequent step ought to he wish to swap to IndyCar, and whether or not he would take a look at with the crew subsequent February, Blomqvist responded: “Realistically, I don’t suppose there’s a lot happening for me in IndyCar subsequent yr, for certain.
“It’s clearly a dialog I have to have with [team co-owners] Mike [Shank] and Jim [Meyer], after which it’s a query of, ‘Do I would like this sufficient and do I imagine I can do the job and do they imagine I can do the job?’
“It’s clearly a dialog that must be had, trying by information, after which possibly a chance additional down the highway and actually see if that is one thing that each events wish to pursue.
“So yeah, we want that chat. But when the chance arose I’d grasp it with each arms and provides it a shot.”
Blomqvist says that gaining expertise with the brand new hybrid Acura LMDh automobile for IMSA’s GTP class in 2023 might make him extra fascinating to IndyCar groups, as US open-wheel steps into its hybrid period in 2024.
“All that stuff helps,” stated the Anglo-Swede, who can even race within the LMP2 class of the World Endurance Championship subsequent yr with United Autosports.
“I’m getting an increasing number of expertise as a racing driver, and dealing with totally different folks, totally different producers, new automobiles – the LMDh is a giant step up when it comes to expertise.
“The IndyCar is a really primary little bit of equipment… very uncooked. So I feel all that little stuff helps.
“You’re at all times feeling that database you may have upstairs, you’re at all times studying, studying new methods, working with totally different folks, working with new folks, methods to get essentially the most out of individuals, new automobiles, new packages. I feel the larger adaptability you’ll be able to have as a driver, is simply useful.”
Blomqvist has gained mileage in Acura’s new GTP automobile too which he’ll race for MSR in IMSA subsequent yr
Picture by: Andreas Beil
Relating to the take a look at itself, Blomqvist admitted that the crew “had some small points within the morning” so his runs have been centered on acclimatising to the automobile.
“Within the afternoon, we managed to get a bit extra working performed,” he stated. “Had some downtime, had a little bit of a spin – all a part of the training course of.
“So day, loved it, a bit drained now – however I held up moderately OK. Undoubtedly much more physicality to it.”
Blomqvist defined that the efficiency of an IndyCar in contrast together with his title-winning Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-05, when it comes to lateral or longitudinal g-forces, didn’t catch him without warning. The toughest half, he stated, had been the “brutality of the steering hundreds”.
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