[Raceboy]

The BMW WilliamsF1 Team today confirmed that the 2003 Indy Racing League Champion and Target Chip Ganassi Team driver, Scott Dixon, will test for the team later this month.

The native New Zealander, who is currently contesting the 2004 IRL series with the Target Chip Ganassi Team, will test an FW26 on March 26 at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet in the South of France, before undertaking a three day test in early April at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona.

"I'm very excited about heading to Paul Ricard at the end of next week for my first taste of a Formula One car, although the real test will be in April in Barcelona," said Dixon. "Frank Williams and Chip Ganassi have both been very supportive of this test and are giving me every chance to prove myself. In the meantime, my focus will be on defending Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Championship this season and on the Indy 500 in just over a month from now. With all these opportunities ahead of me, I will do my best to take advantage of them."

Dixon will work alongside regular BMW WilliamsF1 Team drivers conducting the tests in Ricard and Barcelona - Ralf Schumacher, Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia.

"Scott is clearly very talented, and it will be fascinating to see how he performs in a Formula One car," commented team boss, Sir Frank Williams, "We are grateful to Chip Ganassi for sanctioning this test, it of course reflects our close and long standing co-operation with an organisation that I hold in the highest regard."

"We have always had a good working relationship with Frank and both teams have reaped the benefits of an arsenal of remarkably talented drivers over the years as a result," added Target Chip Ganassi Racing owner, Chip Ganassi. "This is a good opportunity for Scott to test his mettle in an F1 car and we have always encouraged our drivers to live up to new challenges and strive to be the best."

bron: crash.net