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INDYCAR: Saavedra Impresses On Dragon Debut
Based on the pace 22-year-old Colombian driver Sebastian Saavedra showed on Monday, Dragon Racing could have a formidable two-car assault in 2013.
Marshall Pruett  |  Posted February 19, 2013  
Sebastien Bourdais, left, Jay Penske, middle, and Sebastian Saavedra, right, have found a easy working relationship in their brief time together. (Photo: LAT)
It was only 40 solo laps on a cool, dirty Sebring short course on Monday, but Dragon Racing’s latest acquisition, 22-year-old Colombian driver Sebastian Saavedra, left his new team feeling rather impressed.

“[Saavedra] showed a lot of maturity and smarts today,” said Jay Penske, who founded the Dragon team in 2007. “It took a few sets of tires, but he was within a few tenths of Sebastien Bourdais. A very good day.”

Sebastien Bourdais, the 4-time Champ Car titlist, had a similar take on his new teammate who will helm the Chevy-powered No. 6 entry this season.

“You don’t know what to expect until you test with someone, but Saavedra was a good surprise,” said the 33-year-old Frenchman. “He was very smart about things and really quick. That was great to see for everyone, and it makes you feel good about the potential of this team.”

Bourdais turned a 52.6-second lap to Saavedra's 52.9.

Both drivers will be in action next week at the next IndyCar test at Sonoma Raceway.

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.
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