diff --git a/csi/test/e2e_test.sh b/csi/test/e2e_test.sh
index bcf0860cd..76a4b1844 100755
--- a/csi/test/e2e_test.sh
+++ b/csi/test/e2e_test.sh
@@ -94,6 +94,17 @@ if ! kubectl get namespace $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE &> /dev/null; then
    kubectl create namespace $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE
 fi
 
+echo "Creating dummy input data for testing ..."
+
+cat <<EOF > "/tmp/iris-input.json"
+{
+  "instances": [
+    [6.8,  2.8,  4.8,  1.4],
+    [6.0,  3.4,  4.5,  1.6]
+  ]
+}
+EOF
+
 echo "======== Finished preparing test environment ========"
 
 echo "======== Scenario 1 - Testing with default model registry service ========"
@@ -154,7 +165,7 @@ spec:
 EOF
 
 # wait for pod predictor to be initialized
-repeat_cmd_until "kubectl get pod -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --selector='component=predictor' | wc -l" "-gt 0" 60
+repeat_cmd_until "kubectl get pod -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --selector='component=predictor' | wc -l" "-gt 0" 600
 predictor_one=$(kubectl get pod -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --selector="component=predictor" --output jsonpath='{.items[0].metadata.name}')
 
 kubectl wait --for=condition=Ready pod/$predictor_one -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --timeout=5m
@@ -237,7 +248,7 @@ spec:
 EOF
 
 # wait for pod predictor to be initialized
-repeat_cmd_until "kubectl get pod -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --selector='component=predictor' --output jsonpath='{.items[*].metadata.name}' | grep sklearn-iris-test-predictor | wc -l" "-gt 0" 60
+repeat_cmd_until "kubectl get pod -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --selector='component=predictor' --output jsonpath='{.items[*].metadata.name}' | grep sklearn-iris-test-predictor | wc -l" "-gt 0" 600
 predictor_two=$(kubectl get pod -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --selector="component=predictor" --output jsonpath='{.items[1].metadata.name}')
 
 kubectl wait --for=condition=Ready pod/$predictor_two -n $KSERVE_TEST_NAMESPACE --timeout=5m