The first tests for IndyCar’s new chassis, the Dallara IR28, are set for Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. The single-car tests will be on the IMS road course with Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi driving on Saturday and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou on Sunday.
Rossi’s test will be from 1 to 4 p.m., while Palou’s will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Timing is subject to change based on IndyCar’s competition schedule. The Turn 2 viewing mounds will be open on both days.
IndyCar unveiled the IR28 on Tuesday after years of anticipation for the new chassis, which is set to debut in 2028. The advancements in the car are designed to break track records, specifically on the IMS oval.
“Seeing the car for the first time made me even more excited about where IndyCar is going,” Palou said in a news release. “The design is super cool and feels like a proper next step for the series while still looking like an IndyCar Series car. I think the fans are going to love it, and as a driver I cannot wait to get behind the wheel. The most important thing is that we keep the close, fun racing that makes IndyCar special, and from what I’ve seen, we’re heading in a really good direction.”
“The car is awesome,” Rossi said. “We all wanted a new, modern-day car that is lighter and looks futuristic and fast but still has all of the incredible safety advancements that IndyCar is known for. This does all of those things. There are still a lot of things to work through in terms of on-track testing and how it reacts to the different types of environments it will be exposed to, but from a visual standpoint, it’s incredible. This is something people will be excited about.”
These are just validation tests, hence why both are single-car tests. After feedback is provided by teams and drivers, the chassis will be adjusted as needed and undergo more tests on the IMS oval, road course and Sebring International Raceway road course. IndyCar and Dallara are enlisting a pair of Indianapolis 500 champions who have also won on the IMS road course to hop in the cockpit first.
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to watch Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi test new IndyCar chassis at IMS
Reporting by Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
