It wasn't a test, he was going at race speeds with hand controls. It was an incredible sight, when he was lifted into the car and strapped in and then he took off. People thought he would do a parade, but he had a mission to run those 13 laps like he would have had he been in the race.

Alex Z has said in various interviews that he does it for the love of the sport. Its not the money or the fame, he does it because he still loves driving. Its something like Paul Newman who at 81 years of age is still one of the fastest semi professional racers.