How successful was the first official Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires oval test with the Mazda-powered Dallara IL-15 on the 1.485-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval?

Eleven drivers combined for a total of 1,200 incident-free laps as teams worked on initial set-ups in preparation for three oval races on the schedule. Kyle Kaiser of Juncos Racing recorded a best lap of 188.851 mph (28.3081 seconds) – more than 7 mph faster than the NASCAR Sprint Cup lap record (181.238 mph by Brad Keselowski in qualifying in November 2014) -- and all drivers beat that number.

Earlier in the week, drivers tested on the HMS road course in preparation for the season-opening doubleheader March 28-29 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, as part of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg featuring the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“I'm sure there are a few surprises on the timesheet but that's what we like,” Indy Lights race director and Dallara IL-15 project manager Tony Cotman said. “It's interesting to watch teams approaching things from different perspectives. The speeds were quick especially considering how much downforce teams were running. Running in traffic and race craft is a totally different challenge so there's a whole lot more to learn. Hopefully, they are tuned up for the next oval test at Chicagoland (Speedway on May 14).”

Kaiser, 18, of Santa Clara, California, narrowly missed the Indy Lights one-lap record of 189.745 mph (28.1764 seconds) set in qualifying by the late Paul Dana in 2004.

"Today was a nice way to finish the week of testing,” said Kaiser, a Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires graduate who was also quickest at the Palm Beach International Raceway test earlier in the month. “The team continues to demonstrate their ability to adapt to this new car. It's still early and there is a lot of work ahead, but we are making steady progress. It was my first time driving on an oval at this speed and the team gave me the perfect car to make the transition seamless.

“I'm looking forward to NOLA in a few weeks to continue our development."

Teams and drivers will be on the NOLA Motorsports Park circuit on Feb. 18-19 before a Feb. 24-25 test at Barber Motorsports Park. Both venues host Indy Lights races in April.

Spencer Pigot, 21, of Indianapolis, was just over a tenth of a second off Kaiser’s time with a best lap of 187.852 mph (28.4585 seconds).

“We had a really productive week of testing at Homestead,” said Pigot, the 2014 Pro Mazda champion. “We had lots of things we wanted to try both on the road course and the oval. The car was great on both tracks and I can’t wait to get back in it and continue our test program.”

Scott Anderson of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports ended the day third quick with a lap of 187.833 mph (28.4615 seconds) followed by Belardi Auto Racing teammates Juan Piedrahita (187.710 mph, 28.4801) and Felix Serralles (187.007 mph, 28.5871).

"The team gave me an awesome car; it was very fast and very secure,” said Piedrahita, who enters his second season in the series. “The Dallara IL-15 handles very well on the oval and I can’t wait to drive it again. I’m very pleased with my team and I am sure we will have a great year."

Andretti Autosport’s Shelby Blackstock, who posted the second-fastest time on the HMS road course, claimed sixth on the chart (186.136 mph, 28.7210) followed by RC Enerson of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, a graduate of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda (185.373 mph, 28.8392).

Oval newcomers Ed Jones (185.155 mph, 28.8731) and Max Chilton (184.757 mph, 28.9353) of Carlin and Ethan Ringel (182.653 mph, 29.2686) of Schmidt Peterson – who declared “ovals are officially my new favorite thing” – were separated by Indy Lights vice champion Jack Harvey (184.792 mph, 28.9298), who is doing the bulk of the development work for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.