Felix Rosenqvist impresses in maiden IndyCar test

Reigning European Formula Three champion Felix Rosenqvist impressed during his first run in an IndyCar this week, reportedly setting the fastest unofficial lap time for rookie drivers at the Mid-Ohio test.

The Swede, who has been splitting his time between Indy Lights and European sports car campaigns, was said to be just 0.3 seconds behind pace setter Will Power during the morning session.

Scott Dixon, who shared the car with Rosenqvist during the day was left impressed by the youngster's performance, telling RACER "he did a really good job".

"If he's placed in the right situation, I think he can really thrive," said the reigning IndyCar champion. "The cool thing is he has a ton of experience; he's driven a lot of open-wheel cars and a lot of sports cars, so for a young guy, he's got a lot of miles under him."

"He didn't fall off at all, and was better than some of the Penske guys," he added. "He's well-rounded and picks things up quickly. I think he's a heck of a talent and I hope he finds something."

Speaking of his half-day of running with the Chip Ganassi racing, Rosenqvist was full of praise for the team.

"It's the quickest car I've ever driven with the most downforce," he said. "It's very grippy and physical. Ganassi have a great car and everything is done in a very professional way so you can just concentrate on driving. It's been really good to work with their team."

"I haven't seen any official times, but we were not far away in terms of speed," he added. "The first step was to make sure I was comfortable in the car, and then the next step was to push."

"For a first day in a new car on a new track, it went very well. It wears you out a little bit; your neck most of all. I spoke with [Chip Ganassi Racing's] Tony Kanaan, and he said it's the worst place for physical demands. You feel it after getting out of the car, but it's this way for every [rookie] driver."