SONOMA, Calif. -- James Davison again will have the benefit of an IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test to get acclimated to the No. 18 Sonny's BBQ Dale Coyne Racing car and the racetrack.
Davison, who made his series debut in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Aug. 4, will compete this week in the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. He'll participate in an Open Test on Aug. 21 on the 2.385-mile, 12-turn road course.
"I'm excited to be back in the No. 18 car at Sonoma. Mid-Ohio was a solid debut that I came out of pleased and having learned a lot," said Davison, who started 16th and finished 15th on the road course. "With some experience now under my belt and added confidence that goes with it, I must aim to go another step forward this weekend. Finishing the race again will be most important."
Click it: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma entrant list || Event schedule, tickets
Davison, 26, of Melbourne, Australia, participated in a team test and an Open Test at Mid-Ohio before joining the 24-car field for the initial practice session on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course.
He also has a working knowledge of Sonoma, having finished third in the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights race. JR Hildebrand, who will drive the No. 98 Barracuda Racing car this weekend, won that race.
The No. 18 car is spoken for at Baltimore (Stefan Wilson, a Firestone Indy Lights winner who will make his IZOD IndyCar Series debut), the Houston doubleheader (Mike Conway, who won in the Honda-powered car at Detroit in June) and the finale at Auto Club Speedway (Pippa Mann).
The Open Test is open to race ticket-holders and spectators who purchase a race ticket at the gate. Fans can watch the test session from open seating areas, stroll the paddock and attend the lunchtime news conference with select drivers in the Wine Country Winner’s Circle.
Live Timing & Scoring is available on www.indycar.com (10-5 local; 1 p.m.-8 p.m. ET).