The final hours of what seemed to be a routine test session for the June 26 Kohler Grand Prix at Road America offered a surprise in the form of 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski.
Keselowski shocked many in the paddock by hopping in Simon Pagenaud‘s No. 22 Menard Team Penske Chevrolet for a shakedown late in Wednesday’s test session.
Sharing my @Menards car with @keselowski!Nice 2 see @NASCAR Champ interest in @IndyCar.Where is my @PerrierUSA suit? pic.twitter.com/YVpsAg96a8
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) June 15, 2016
Keselowski, who drives Penske’s No. 2 Miller Lite Ford and No. 22 Discount Tire Ford in the Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series, respectively, completed some laps around the 4.048-mile road course after receiving some pointers from Pagenaud and other Verizon IndyCar Series drivers.
“I’ve always wanted to drive an Indy car, I think (Penske Racing President) Tim Cindric knew that,” Keselowski said in a release. “The opportunity came up to dip my toes in the water and kind of expand my knowledge base and put it in the back of my mind for wherever it goes, I don’t know. But it was a heck of an opportunity and I’m glad to have a chance.”
While the opportunity came seemingly out of nowhere, it’s likely that this was discussed in advance by Team Penske. The organization hinted at Keselowski’s ride early in the session.
Look who showed up at the @IndyCar test at @roadamerica. NASCAR Champion @keselowski is checking it out. pic.twitter.com/mePJxEwoyZ
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
Think we can get @keselowski to take some laps in the @Menards car? pic.twitter.com/HM4vIEOUoQ
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
Yup. We talked him into it. @keselowski is even getting some pointers from @MarcoAndretti pic.twitter.com/oNmKvPO6Nd
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
It’s happening @MillerLite @Menards @IndyCar @roadamerica pic.twitter.com/NhrMJ1Zofz
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
Keselowski finally made his way onto the circuit shortly after 4:00 p.m. ET, completing two separate runs with an overall top speed of over 182 mph. The NASCAR champion increased his lap times by over 10 seconds throughout the session as he got used to maneuvering the Dallara.
And @keselowski is off… @roadamerica @IndyCar pic.twitter.com/OX08FkMH1b
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
And there @keselowski goes… @IndyCar @roadamerica pic.twitter.com/yq2DYzEx5w
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
The first run is complete. @keselowski actually improved his time 10 seconds over the laps @roadamerica @indycar pic.twitter.com/p8GE1PkMoW
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
While Keselowski made laps around Road America, the normal driver of the No. 22 Chevrolet watched closely and offered guidance. Pagenaud, who has three victories and the points lead through the first half to the IndyCar season, surveyed Keselowski’s run from the pit box throughout the session.
. @keselowski is still making laps here @roadamerica while @simonpagenaud and @benbretzman offer pointers pic.twitter.com/Gj3DB6ZSCh
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
Not too shabby @keselowski @MillerLite @Menards @IndyCar @roadamerica pic.twitter.com/kUCfF33NVa
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) June 15, 2016
Pagenaud willingly gave up his ride for a few minutes in Wednesday’s test, but in the end had some important advice for Keselowski – don’t get too used to driving it.
Don't get too comfortable in there @keselowski! ? #IndyCar https://t.co/Y4CxAvOytp
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) June 15, 2016
“First thing I told Simon (after the test) is he has a very secure job, at least from me,” Keselowski said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him and his team, everyone at Team Penske. This (No.) 22 Menards team, they did a great job today and I had a lot of fun going with them. Simon was fast, really fast and gave me a good rabbit to chase. I learned a ton today and had a lot of fun. I’ve got to let it soak in here to think about all of it. It was a heck of a day here at Road America.”
It’s unknown at this time if Keselowski will return to an IndyCar at any point in the future, or if Pagenaud will return the favor and drive Keselowski’s NSCS car. Keselowski, who has two victories to date in the 2016 NSCS season, also tried his hand at dirt racing for the first time last July, finishing 28th in the Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway.
In the end, Keselowski said the handling was much different on an IndyCar than it would’ve been in a stock car.
“It sure was getting in the corners a lot deeper,” he said. “I think the Indy car just pulls so many G’s through the center of the corner and in the brake zone. You have to build confidence in it because the stock car does everything it can to wreck your confidence and in the Indy car it’s important to have confidence. So you have to kind of unlearn everything you learned in a stock car to be good in these cars. That’s a heck of a process but a fun one.
“It’s certainly a different feel, trying to get acclimated to a different seat and you lean back more. I was kind of sitting in Simon’s seat and it doesn’t always fit you perfect, so it wears you out pretty quick. But it’s a good way to get worn out.”
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.