Carlo Medici might be a Ferrari F1 fan, but after his recent Indy Racing Experience drive at the Walt Disney World Speedway, Medici admits that he has become an IndyCar fan as well.

IRE Fan Focus: Ferrari F1 Fan Turned IndyCar Driver
Milan, Italy, native blown away by driving experience at the Walt Disney World Speedway

Carlo Medici smiles widely when he tells you he is a Ferrari fan and an avid Formula 1 follower.  But after a recent trip around the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, you got the impression the Milan, Italy, native is also a new IndyCar fan.

In town with his family, Medici ventured to the popular speedway in Orlando to drive an IndyCar around the 1-mile tri-oval.  Following his ride, the elated Medici compared his recent experience with his passion for F1 racing.

“You feel like you are a Formula 1 driver in the car and I am a big Ferrari fan of course,” he said.  “For a novice, I think this is the closest you can get to being a Formula 1 driver.”

Medici had never been behind the wheel of a real racing machine, so having the opportunity to experience the power and speed that comes with it was certainly something to which he was looking forward.

“It was fantastic,” he said.  “My family knows Jeff (Sinden, co-owner of the Indy Racing Experience) and he told us to stop out here and take the car for a spin. The briefing was very clear and thorough, and the drive was a blast.”

During his eight laps around the Walt Disney World Speedway, Medici noted that he felt the high speeds, but also the unique characteristics in each of the three turns.

“The overall speed is quite impressive and the turns look alike, but they are all very different so you have to adjust your lines in each corner.  I absolutely loved it.”

And while the Honda-powered Dallara he was driving may not have had a Ferrari decal on the side, Medici admitted that his drive gave him a perspective of what drivers in the IndyCar Series go through each weekend.

“I couldn’t imagine going for that long.  I’m definitely a fan now.”

The Indy Racing Experience operates daily at the Walt Disney World Speedway and opens for both riding and driving experiences at 4 p.m. ET. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) 357-5002. For more information on the Indy Racing Experience, which also operates at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at all North American IndyCar Series tracks, please contact us by phone or submit questions and comments HERE.