US RaceTronics (USRT) arrived at the MSR Houston road circuit for the second of three Champ Car Atlantic Open Tests with the hopes of continuing the progress that prior tests have produced.

US RaceTronics (USRT) arrived at the MSR Houston road circuit for the second of three Champ Car Atlantic Open Tests with the hopes of continuing the progress that prior tests have produced.  With a full crew in tow USRT arrived at the track ready to gauge its progress.  By Sunday evening the team was confident that the test met and in fact exceeded many of their expectations 

While Day 1 of testing began under cool conditions and ominous clouds, by end of the day the mood at the USRT pits would be the polar opposite.  Drivers David Garza and Carl Skerlong both began putting strong laps and after several different adjustments made to the car the duo soon began to find their grooves and times began improving.  Skerlong would finish the first session in the 12^th spot while teammate Garza finished 3^rd on the sheets.  After the Lunch break the twosome would once again use the track time to their advantage and by the time the 2^nd session was complete both USRT drivers improved.  Garza would have a combined result of 4^th, while Skerlong would improve to 7^th overall.

 While the first day was cold the second day would bring with it even colder conditions as the morning high hovered at 42 degrees.  Despite the uncomfortable conditions the USRT squad entered the day with every intention of improving its times.  Garza and Skerlong, working alongside their respective Team Engineers; Peter Jacobs (Garza #4) and Walter Preston (Skerlong #24) found the adjustments needed on their cars to suite the cold conditions.  The result was immediate.  Both drivers shot to the top of the time sheets and stayed there for the majority of the two sessions. Garza and Skerlong would finish 2nd and 3^rd respectively after the day’s last session.   Combining the times from both sessions Sierra Sierra drivers James Hinchcliffe and Rafael Matos along with Forsythe Championship Racing driver John Edwards would own the top 3 finishing spots respectively while Garza would find his combined time at 4^th and Skerlong 5^th.

Team Owner Shane Seneviratne, while pleased with the test was not resting on its laurels.  “Our approach coming into this test was to try to bring together our off- season and to apply that data to a plausible race environment.  We put a lot of pressure on our drivers to perform well, and honestly I am very pleased at how our drivers performed. Knowing that we only have a few months before the first race we are taking every test very seriously.  The series is so competitive that we cannot rest, 100% is going to be required all the time, states Seneviratne.  “While the results prove that we are improving and progressing it doesn’t mean it will remain consistent, each new track we go to will bring a new challenge to overcome and will be a new learning experience, adds Seneviratne.

"It was a big change for us from the Sebring test, where we struggled a bit," said Skerlong. "The competition in Atlantics is unparalleled and to run up at the front really gives us a lot of confidence as a team."

For his part Garza was also happy at the results.  “This was a dream weekend. It was very productive in that we accomplished and learned a lot.  The Cooper tire performed really well and overall we are so please”, comments Garza.

US RaceTronics makes its final pre-season test for the Atlantics on March 7-8 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in a couple of weeks. The 2007 season officially gets underway at the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix Fueled by Visa, April 6^th – 8^th in Las Vegas.

  For more information on US RaceTronics and its partners, visit www.usracetronics.com.  You can visit David Garza’s website at www.david-garza.com and Carl Skerlong’s website at www.cskerlong.com