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From the
Kentucky Speedway
SPARTA, Ky. (February 2010) Race fans will be able to see a live
preview of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 when drivers Marco Andretti, Helio
Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon
test their IZOD IndyCar Series machines on Kentucky Speedways 1.5-mile
tri-oval May 4.
Firestone Indy Lights competitors will open the two-day test on May 3.
Sessions are scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. both days.
Kentucky Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park (Feb. 23-26) will be the
sites of the only open series test sessions this season. A 300-mile IndyCar
Series race will conclude Kentucky Speedways first Labor Day weekend
celebration with the Firestone Indy Lights Drive Smart. Buckle-Up!
Kentucky 100 Sept. 4. The race weekend will open Sept. 3 with the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Built Ford Tough 225 presented
by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers.
In addition to the open test sessions, IZOD IndyCar Series teams are allowed
as many as six private testing days and a minimum of 800 test miles, depending
on the number of full-time cars fielded by the team. Teams can earn 300
bonus test miles by testing a Firestone Indy Lights driver at least 600
miles for a maximum of three private test days.
The IZOD IndyCar Series season opens March 14 on the streets of vibrant
Sao Paulo, Brazil. The initial Firestone Indy Lights race will be held
March 28 on the picturesque St. Petersburg, Fla., street circuit. The
first four races for IZOD IndyCar Series and first three Firestone Indy
Lights races will be contested on road-street courses, including the inaugural
Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 11 at the 2.38-mile road course in
Birmingham, Ala.
The way the 2010 schedule allowed for the opportunity for our teams
to focus their preseason plans on the road and street course events which
open the season, said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and
racing operations for the Indy Racing League. By shifting oval testing
to in-season, teams have the option of keeping their equipment in road-course
trim until they are ready to focus on the oval portion of the schedule,
including the month of May at Indianapolis.
Fans will be able to view all Kentucky testing from the designated area
outside the Turn 3 Fan Center for free.
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