Firestone test at Homestead-Miami signals start of 2010

The sounds of IZOD IndyCar Series cars returned to South Florida as Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske participated in the first day of the first Firestone tire test of the 2010 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Start of 2010 Season Credit: IndyCar Series

The two-day test features reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti and Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe. Though it was 40 degrees cooler than it was the last time the drivers toured the Homestead-Miami Speedway 's 1.5 oval, everyone seemed excited to get back on track and get to work.

Franchitti said he's enjoyed the off-season (only two visits to the shop in Indianapolis), which included the wedding of his brother, Marino, to Holly Mason (daughter of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason).

"He's still in one piece and the wedding came off," Franchitti said. "It was an amazing wedding and I really enjoyed that a lot."

The Franchitti brothers will be at Daytona International Speedway this week for Rolex 24 At Daytona testing. They'll be driving separate Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates prototypes. The race is Jan. 30-31.

"I'm looking forward to being on the same team with him again, though it's not in the same car," Dario said.

Also back to work was Briscoe, who was married last month in Hawaii where he said everything went off without a hitch.

"It was absolutely perfect," said Briscoe, who wed Nicole Manske. "We had all our closest friends and family there. It actually was a big turnout for being a destination wedding; we had about 100 guests. We're really happy."

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