The best thing about testing is that it often occurs in a warm climate before the racing season starts, which means a least a few days away from the usual bone-chilling winter weather in the Philadelphia region. Homestead - Miami was just such a place in February for the first of two Road to Indy pre-season testing sessions this year.
I like to think of testing as the first annual dip into a pool. I see three types of testing mentalities displayed in their subtle (or not so subtle) nuances at every test session. I believe these are windows to the mindsets of individuals that should bear some psychological exploration.
1.) The person that jumps into the pool regardless of the temperature without testing the water (I am not one of these people, but I understand the allure). Self-confidence is strong in this type of person. They know they can handle whatever challenges arise and are equipped to deal with them. In addition, they feel that their talent and training are more than adequate for the task.
2.) Dipping toes into the water and then sitting on the side of the pool dangling legs in the water. This mindset can come from different thought patterns. Sometimes it's a lack of confidence, demonstrating a person's acceptance of why they are at the pool (or the track in this case) to get wet, to get accustomed to a surrounding that can be awkward and newish. Think back to your second Summer at the pool growing up. You remember the experiences from the first season, but it was a long time ago, and you remember that one perplexing choking episode when you tilted your head somehow and took on water you didn't intend to. Sometimes these little unknowns lurk beneath a confident exterior in drivers (like they can for everyone). Not knowing why something went amiss is a recipe for disaster. Imagine having a crash towards the end of last season at a track you felt comfortable driving. Something happened, and what you thought would happen didn't, and you don't know why. Not understanding decays confidence. It gives birth to imaginary forces that can pick at a person's psyche.
3.) The poser. Stylish and chic, dressed for hanging at the pool. Just going to the swimming pool is the real thing. It's cool. It's their brand. It defines them. They are a racer. Or at least they like to be thought of that way. New helmet, new firesuit, new coach, they are ready, and they want the world to know it. But why? Because this is an excellent way to intimidate potential competitors. Whoever thinks that all races are won and lost on the racetrack is wrong. I would wager that far more races are lost in the mind before the green flag falls, and now is the time when the mental game of racing hits full speed.
But it's not only about the drivers. The mechanics, crew chiefs, team owners, and engineers are all there to glean information, usually for competitive advantage but often to gather unique real-world data. This distinction widens the gap quickly because a team's work ethic reads like an open book if you study it carefully. Tests come with parameters that dictate some of what can be accomplished. A dry track in the hot sun won't tell you how the suspension performs under cool, wet conditions or how adept a new driver's throttle management is during slippery corner exit. Wasting time at a test session is a sure clue to a team's commitment and poor organization. Paramount to the test itself is the knowledge harnessed and then scrutinized and implemented. Making the most of the test is a science that the best in the world hone during every session. Data gained through turning laps is precious and having a plan is the best way to make use of what little track time there is before the season starts.
Beginnings are indeed delicate times.
Here's a small gallery of some of my favorites from Testing with the Road to Indy at Homestead/Miami Speedway.
