Matsuura IndyCar test / SAF Racing aiming at 2-car team

[rustyfan]

From AutoSport;

Matsuura to make IRL test debut - Formula Renault V6 Eurocup front-runner to test for Aguri Fernandez team


Japanese driver Kousuke Matsuura will have his first run in an IRL IndyCar Series machine today (Tuesday), when he tests for Super Aguri Fernandez Racing at Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona.

The team, co-owned by Japanese former driver Aguri Suzuki and CART veteran Adrian Fernandez, ran Asian-American rookie Roger Yasukawa this season, achieving a best result of seventh at Kansas and California.

The team says that it will confirm its 2004 line-up in the near future, although Suzuki recently told AUTOSPORT that he wanted to expand to run two cars next season.

"I want to enter a two-car team," said Fernandez. "One will be a Japanese driver and one an experienced driver. It all depends on me finding some good sponsors."

Matsuura will run for two days at the one-mile oval. Running with backing from Suzuki, the 24 year old was a front-runner in the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup this year, winning three races.

After graduating through Japanese karting and the Suzuka Racing School Formula, Matsuura moved to Europe, competing in the German F3 championship in 2001. He finished second in the series in 2002, and also tested for the BAR F1 team last December.

Here's hoping both that Matsuura's test goes well and that the team can find enough sponsorship to indeed run two cars