Testing rules

[jwhite9185]

What are IRL rules on testing? Can teams do their own private tests or is the only one they can take part in is pre season at homestead?

[usgrandprix]

They change so much I don't think anyone has a handle on them. He's what you can expect:

-Two preseason open tests for all teams. One at a road course (Sebring?) and one at an oval (Homestead?). That will probably be in March.

-ICS teams that also have an Indy Lights team get a couple of tests during the season. Each test is 50% Indy Lights driver and 50% ICS driver. It's supposed to give the Lights driver a chance in the car but ICS teams have been using it for testing on tracks coming up on the schedule too. Usually road courses.

-There are random tire tests occasionally. Not sure how they pick drivers for that, but I noticed they usually have big and small teams.

I don't think there's much testing in the off season outside of that.

Of course, a wind tunnel is a big oval advantage for the big teams as they can afford.

And the month of May offers a lot of track "testing" time...when it doesn't rain.

[usgrandprix]

Also, it seems to me some rookie drivers get a little extra time to prep and take the rookie test. It all depends on when the driver is coming on the scene.