Will Power made his IndyCar test return in the new Dallara DW12 chassis, just four weeks after suffering another back injury in the huge crash at Las Vegas which claimed the life of Dan Wheldon.
Power was able to climb out of the car himself following his crash, but was taken to a hospital by ambulance to be treated for a fractured vertebrae. It was the second time in two years that he has injured his back, after breaking it in a practice crash at Sonoma in 2009. His injury at Vegas was not severe, however, and this week he was able to climb into the cockpit of next year's Dallara and complete more than 100 laps in a private test at Barber Motorsports Park.
"I'm fine – physically I'm in good shape," Power told The Birmingham News.
Alongside easing himself back into the cockpit, Power was able to get a further gauge of the new Dallara chassis and said the test made him positive about the car and the forthcoming season.
"It [the new chassis] is definitely faster," he said. "Around this track it's really hooked up. It's got incredible grip.
"It's the new car, different manufacturers, three different engines [next season]. No one knows what it's going to be like."