IndyCar: De Silvestro preparing for first Andretti test

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Andretti Autosport's newest Verizon IndyCar Series driver was a spectator at Spring Training earlier in the week, but Simona de Silvestro won't have to wait much longer before she logs her first miles in a 2015-spec Honda.

After transitioning from IndyCar at the end of the 2013 season to pursue a Formula 1 berth, the talented Swiss pilot will step into a Dallara DW12 chassis Monday morning at Sebring International Raceway to get a feel for Honda's twin-turbo V6 engine and its new aero kit.

"I'm really excited to get in the car after watching everybody run at Barber, but as a driver, it's annoying to watch other people test when all you really want to do it is out there yourself," de Silvestro told RACER. "I can't wait to get going – it has been more than a year since I drove an Indy car."

With most of de Silvestro's 2014 spent training for F1 cars that use power steering, she intentionally shed a fair amount of muscle mass due to the reduced physical demands. Coming back to IndyCar, where she'll have to wrestle more than 5000 pounds of downforce – without the aid of power steering – the 26-year-old has ramped up her weight training and cardio to rebuild the raw strength and endurance she'll need when IndyCar's season opener kicks off at St. Petersburg March 27-29.

"My fitness training changed last year, but from November on, I knew I'd be back in an IndyCar so I've been working for the last three months to get back to where I need to be," she said. "I don't feel like I've lost any strength with where I'm at today. The Indy car is more physical to drive, but all the cardio I did last year will help also, and I'm pushing that.

"Physically I feel better than I ever have. The biggest test will be at Sebring to see if that is true!"​