TEAM PENSKE, CHEVY THE ONES TO WATCH AT INDY.(Competition)

If Indy Racing League followers learned nothing else from the two-day Indianapolis Motor Speedway open test, they saw Team Penske, which is aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight win, is again the team to beat and Chevrolet engines should be formidable.

Penske teammates Sam Hornish Jr. (above) and Helio Castroneves were first and second quickest during both days. They were the only two drivers to eclipse 220 mph in the first full-scale test of the league's 3.0-liter engines and the new aerodynamic package intended to keep the cars on the ground during spins. Their top laps in Toyota-powered cars were 220.113 mph and 220.075 mph, respectively.

Panther Racing's Tomas Scheckter was third quickest at 219.125 mph in a Chevy, while Japan race winner Dan Wheldon was fourth (218.953) for Andretti Green Racing and Honda. Felipe Giaffone was fifth (218.421) in another Chevy. All of the top-five drive Dallaras.

Giaffone debuted for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in place of Robbie Buhl, who retired a few days before the test (AW, May 3). Team Rahal selected Vitor Meira to fill the seat saved for the injured Kenny Brack.

Most competitors project the pole-winning speed on May 15 will be in the 223-mph bracket based on improvements to be made by the engine manufacturers. "Somewhere between 222 and 223 will be a good speed to run,'' Hornish said.

Castroneves won the pole last year with a four-lap average of 231.732 mph. He projected 225 mph will be necessary to capture the top starting spot this year. Official practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500 is set to begin May 9. The race is scheduled for May 30.

Four drivers hit the wall during the test, but none of them had the kind of problem Mario Andretti had in last year's open test when he flipped into the catch fence at the south end of the track.