INDYCAR announces its testing regulations, locations for 2016

By Nov 2, 2015, 9:10 AM EST
AP
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The Verizon IndyCar Series regulations and locations for testing ahead of the 2016 season have been released on Monday morning.

A two-day promoter test day, February 26-27, at Phoenix International Raceway, has been scheduled while on the whole, teams will have eight team or full-size wind tunnel test days.

That PIR date may well serve as the “Spring Training” location prior to the March 11-13 weekend at St. Petersburg; in recent years, it’s been at Barber in mid-March before the later St. Pete date and the opener.

Additional test days will be available for teams who either have an Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires program, or, as was the case at Sonoma this year, if teams split a day’s running with an Indy Lights driver alongside their IndyCar driver.

Here’s the full release and details:

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Testing regulations for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season, announced by INDYCAR, include a two-day promoter test at Phoenix International Raceway in preparation for the series’ return to the historic 1-mile oval.

The Phoenix promoter test is scheduled for Feb. 26-27, five weeks in advance of the Phoenix Grand Prix on April 2. It will mark the first Indy car event in 11 years at PIR, which hosted 61 Indy car races from 1964-2005.

Under the regulations that went into effect Aug. 31 and remain through the final race of the 2016 season on Sept. 18, a Verizon IndyCar Series team (defined by INDYCAR as one or more entrants/car numbers under common ownership or control) is permitted a total of eight team test and/or full-size wind tunnel test days. Teams that also field a full-season entry in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the top rung of the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder, will now be granted an extra Verizon IndyCar Series team test day once the Indy Lights entry has participated in five 2016 races.

Verizon IndyCar Series teams will continue to receive an extra test day if seat time is divided between a Verizon IndyCar Series driver and Indy Lights driver.

“These regulations balance diverse interests in our paddock while containing costs and fostering great competition,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We are really looking forward to our first promoter test next spring in Phoenix as a great opportunity to showcase the return of PIR to the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“The testing regulations provide teams the opportunity to earn additional test days for competing in Indy Lights and by testing a driver who is a current competitor in Indy Lights,” Miles added. “This year the shared test day rule provided several Indy Lights drivers the opportunity to test a Verizon IndyCar Series car at Sonoma Raceway, which we felt was instrumental in the continued development of these young drivers and the overall growth of the ladder series.”

INDYCAR has scheduled eight promoter test days in 2016, open to all entrants and mandatory for Leaders Circle members. Promoter test days do not count against the eight-day team test allotment. The Phoenix promoter test in February is the only one not in conjunction with a typical race weekend schedule. The other promoter test days are:March 11, St. Petersburg; April 22, Barber Motorsports Park; May 12, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course; June 24, Road America; July 29, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; and Sept. 16, Sonoma Raceway.

A full-season entrant is allocated a maximum of 10,000 engine miles for use in all tests and race events from the start of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season to the start of the 2017 season. Testing mileage accrued between the end of the 2015 season and start of the 2016 season will come from the entrant’s remaining 2015 mileage allocation – which was also 10,000 miles – or be charged at a per-mile rate set by the respective engine manufacturers, Chevrolet and Honda.

Other testing regulation highlights include:

  • INDYCAR has scheduled an aero kit safety test April 6 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. All full-season entrants are permitted to participate in the test, which will be used by INDYCAR to determine approval of aero kit components for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
  • Verizon IndyCar Series teams with rookie drivers are allocated two additional team test days for the rookie driver.
  • Rookie drivers must successfully complete a superspeedway (ovals 1.5 miles or longer) rookie test prior to participating in a superspeedway promoter test or practice for a superspeedway race, whichever comes first. Rookies participating in the Indianapolis 500 only are permitted a superspeedway test day for the purpose of driver evaluation. The Indianapolis 500 rookie orientation test is scheduled for May 16 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  • New Verizon IndyCar Series teams are granted four additional team test days.
  • In-season tire testing requested by Firestone, exclusive tire supplier for the Verizon IndyCar Series, must be approved by INDYCAR. Participation is limited to two days per team by invitation from Firestone. All teams are permitted to have one car participate in team testing in conjunction with any approved tire test.
  • Engine manufacturer testing is limited to two days each for Chevrolet and Honda, from Sept. 14, 2015, to March 3, 2016. Mileage accrued while using a manufacturer’s development engine will not count against an entrant’s 10,000-mile limit. No team may participate in more than one of the engine manufacturer test days.
  • Aero kit suppliers Chevrolet and Honda are permitted three days of aerodynamic bodywork component testing each between Sept. 14, 2015, and the end of the 2016 race season. Mileage accrued while using a manufacturer’s development engine will not count against an entrant’s 10,000-mile limit.

All ovals and permanent road courses on the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series North American schedule are approved testing venues. Additional approved oval test venues are: Auto Club Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and The Milwaukee Mile. Additional approved road course test venues are: Circuit of the Americas, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Palm Beach International Raceway, Sebring International Raceway and Watkins Glen International.

Testing blackout dates are: Nov. 25-30, 2015; Dec. 21, 2015-Jan. 3, 2016; and May 9-30, 2016. In addition, teams may not conduct on-track testing within seven days prior to the start of any on-track activity at a race location (i.e., a promoter test or the first day of practice on a race weekend).

Josef Newgarden claims first Indy 500 victory, outdueling Marcus Ericsson in 1-lap shootout

By May 28, 2023, 4:15 PM EDT
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INDIANAPOLIS — Josef Newgarden won the 107th Indy 500 with a last-lap pass of Marcus Ericsson, giving team owner Roger Penske his 19th victory in the race but his first as the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In a one-lap shootout after the third red flag in the final 20 laps, Newgarden grabbed the lead from Ericsson on the backstretch and then weaved his way to the checkered flag (mimicking the same moves Ericsson had made to win at the Brickyard last year). Santino Ferrucci finished third for AJ Foyt Racing, maintaining his streak of finishing in the top 10 in all five of his Indianapolis 500 starts.

“I’m just so thankful to be here,” Newgarden told NBC Sports’ Marty Snider. “You have no idea. I started out as a fan in the crowd. And this place, it’s amazing.

INSIDE TEAM PENSKE: The tension and hard work preceding ‘The Captain’s’ 19th win

“Regardless of where you’re sitting. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving the car, you’re working on it or you’re out here in the crowd. You’re a part of this event and the energy. So thank you to Indianapolis. I love this city. I grew up racing karts here when I was a kid. I’m just so thankful for Roger and (team president) Tim (Cindric) and everybody at Team Penske.

“I just felt like everyone kept asking me why I haven’t won this race. They look at you like you’re a failure if you don’t win it, and I wanted to win it so bad. I knew we could. I knew we were capable. It’s a huge team effort. I’m so glad to be here.”

Newgarden became the first driver from Tennessee to win the Indy 500 and the first American to win the Greatest Spectacle in Racing since Alexander Rossi in 2016.

“I think the last two laps I forgot about being a track owner and said let’s go for it,” Penske told Snider. “But what a great day. All these wonderful fans. To get No. 19 racing my guy Ganassi, my best friend in this business. But a terrific effort by Josef. Tim Cindric called a perfect race.

“Had a great race, safe race. I’ll never forget it. I know Josef wanted it so bad and wondered why he couldn’t be there, but today all day long, he worked his way up there, and at the end when it was time to go, I was betting on him.”

After Newgarden finally got his first Indy 500 victory on his 12th attempt the two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion climbed out of his No. 2 Dallara-Chevrolet, squeezed through a hole in the catchfence and ran into the stands to celebrate with fans.

“I’ve always wanted to go into the crowd at Indianapolis,” Newgarden said. “I wanted to go through the fence. I wanted to celebrate with the people. I just thought it would be so cool because I know what that energy is like on race day. This was a dream of mine. If this was ever going to happen, I wanted to do that.”

After finishing 0.0974 seconds behind in second with his No. 8 Dallara-Honda, Ericsson was upset about how IndyCar officials handled the ending.

Though it’s not the first time a red flag has been used to guarantee a green-flag finish at the Indy 500, IndyCar races typically haven’t been restarted with only one lap remaining. The green flag was thrown as the field left the pits in an unusual maneuver that had echoes of Formula One’s controversial 2021 season finale.

“I just feel like it was unfair and a dangerous end to the race,” Ericsson told NBC Sports’ Kevin Lee. “I don’t think there was enough laps to do what we did. We’ve never done a restart out of the pits, and we don’t get the tires up to temperature.

“I think we did everything right today. I’m very proud of the No. 8 crew. I think I did everything right behind the wheel. I did an awesome last restart. I think I caught Josef completely off guard and got the gap and kept the lead. But I just couldn’t hold it on the (backstretch). I was flat but couldn’t hold it. I’m proud of us.

“Congratulations to Josef, he did everything right as well. He’s a worthy champion, I’m just very disappointed with the way that ended. I don’t think that was fair.”

There also were a lot of emotions for Ferrucci, who was tearing up as he exited his No. 14 Dallara-Chevy. In the past eight weeks, the team has weathered the deaths of A.J. Foyt’s wife and longtime publicist Anne Fornoro’s husband.

“It’s just tough,” Ferrucci told NBC Sports’ Dave Burns. “We were there all day. All day. I’m just so proud of our AJ Foyt Racing team. We had a few people riding on board with us. This one stings, it’s bittersweet. I’m happy for third and the team. I’m happy for Josef and all of Team Penske.

“I was trying not to tear up getting into the race car before we started the race. Different emotions. It was different. I think coming to the end, the last few restarts. I think IndyCar did the right decision with what they have done. a green-flag finish for the fans. Wish we had a couple more laps to finish that off.”

Pole-sitter Alex Palou rebounded to finish fourth after a collision in the pits near the midpoint. Alexander Rossi took fifth.

The race was stopped three times for 37 minutes for three crashes, including a terrifying wreck involving Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood that sent a tire over the Turn 2 catchfence.

It had been relatively clean with only two yellow flags until the final 50 miles.

After spending the first half of the race trading the lead, pole-sitter Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay (who started second) collided while exiting the pits under yellow on Lap 94.

Leaving the pits after leading 24 laps, VeeKay lost control under acceleration. He looped his No. 21 Dallara-Chevy into the No. 10 Dallara-Honda of Palou that already had left the first pit stall after completing its stop,

Palou, who had led 36 laps. stayed on the lead lap despite multiple stops to replace the front wing but restarted in 28th.

“What an absolute legend trying to win it,” Palou sarcastically radioed his team about VeeKay, who received a drive-through penalty for the contact when the race returned to green.

The incident happened after the first yellow flag on Lap 92 after Sting Ray Robb slapped the outside wall in Turn 1 after battling with Graham Rahal.

Robb put the blame on Rahal in an interview with NBC Sports’ Dillon Welch.

“I think I just need to pay more attention to the stereotypes of the series,” Robb said. “Pay attention to who I’m racing, and that was just way too aggressive of a move I thought. But yeah, I guess we’re in the wall and not much further to say.”

An already miserable May for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing continued before the race even started.

Rahal, who failed to qualify but started his 16th consecutive Indy 500 in place of the injured Stefan Wilson, was unable to start his No. 24 for Dreyer & Reinbold/Cusick Motorsports.

After two aborted attempts at firing the car’s Chevrolet engine, team members pushed Rahal behind the pit wall and swapped out a dead battery. Rahal finally joined the field on the third lap, but he wouldn’t finish last.

RLL teammate Katherine Legge, who had been involved in the Monday practice crash that fractured Wilson’s back, struggled with the handling on her No. 44 Dallara-Honda and nearly spun while exiting the pits after her first stop on Lap 35.

Legge exited her car about 30 laps later as her team began working to fix a steering problem.