AUTO RACING: KANAAN, CASTRONEVES FASTEST IN DAYTONA TESTING.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK  Staff Writer

Indy Racing League drivers Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves were the fastest two drivers in two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway this week.

Kanaan, a driver for the four-car Andretti Green Racing team, posted the fastest lap of the two-day test, at 135.549 mph around the 2.72-mile road course at the speedway.

Castroneves, who drives for the two-car Team Penske, was the fastest driver during the two sessions on Wednesday. His fastest lap was 135.335 mph during the afternoon session.

The IRL does not race at Daytona, but the 17 drivers and teams that tested Wednesday and Thursday were preparing for the five road and street course events on the IRL schedule. All of the IRL team use Honda engines that are developed at Honda Performance Development in Valencia.

``Can we learn anything? Yeah, we can,'' said Andretti Green Racing's Dario Franchitti. ``In a perfect world, we would go run down the streets of St. Pete or up at Mid-Ohio just now. I think that's under snow, so that could be a problem.''

Castroneves said he was pleased with the test.

``At the end of the day we were able to test quite well,'' Castroneves said. ``We tried a lot of things that usually take a long time. Both Sam (Hornish Jr.) and I were trying to discuss everything so it was a great and productive test for teammates.''

Dan Wheldon, who drives for Chip Ganassi's Team Target, and Hornish Jr., the other driver at Team Penske, were `among the fastest drivers in the test sessions.

Danica Patrick, the newest addition to the Andretti Green Racing team, was among the slowest during the sessions.

``It's been a tough couple days, for sure,'' Patrick said. ``It's just all part of the learning process. We're taking a new team's car and learning what we need to get it right.''

The IRL season opens March 24 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

timothy.haddock(at)dailynews.com

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Team Penske's Helio Castroneves was the fastest driver during the two test sessions at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday. His fastest lap was 135.335 mph during the afternoon session.

Shawn Payne/Indy Racing League