Dixon, Hinchcliffe impressed after 2018 aero test

Honda tasked four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and front-runner James Hinchcliffe with providing feedback during its Manufacturers' test at Texas Motor Speedway on Monday. The 1.5-mile high-banked oval was the first of its kind for Honda and its Chip Ganassi Racing and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports teams with the new UAK18 bodywork.

"The biggest thing of all of us is that they've done it in a way to make the car perform better – it should be better in traffic," said Dixon (pictured). "It should be much more predictable – a little easier to follow in traffic. In hindsight, we should get some damn good racing."

Prior to the Texas test, Honda had gathered data on the short Iowa oval and at the big Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which made the trip to Texas with the universal aero kit rather important.

"I think Scott and I were both pretty impressed with it out of the box," Hinchcliffe added. "It does all the things a racecar should do and not a whole lot of what a racecar shouldn't do. Unfortunately, it has been something we've dealt with in the past couple of years with the aero kit. I'm excited to finally get some miles on it and keep learning."

Chevy and Honda will continue to conduct Manufacturers' tests during the offseason while IndyCar teams await the arrival of their UAK18 bodywork in late November. Once IndyCar's private testing blackout is lifted on Jan. 8, teams will be free to turn their first laps outside of any Chevy- or Honda-related tests they've conducted on behalf of both brands.