IndyCar Series drivers and teams will continue preparations for the 2009 season March 22-23 with an Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala. Although seven drivers tested at the facility in October 2007, this will mark the first time the full field of IndyCar Series drivers runs on the 16-turn, 2.38-mile course.
Testing is scheduled for 9 a.m.–5 p.m. March 22 and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on March 23 and will include 2008 race winners Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Graham Rahal, Dan Wheldon and Justin Wilson.
“This is the only Open Test scheduled for a road course,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations for the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. “While there’s not a whole lot of stuff they can be developing in the road course area, this gives everyone the opportunity to get back into the road course mode and get ready for the first two races of the year.”
The IndyCar Series opens the season with races on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., April 5 and Long Beach, Calif., April 19 before the season’s first race on an oval April 26 at Kansas Speedway.
“Just to be able to get back into a car on a road course is great because it has been so long since the last race in Australia,” Vision Racing’s Ed Carpenter said. “It’ll help get rid of some of the cobwebs and get back a feel for the car since it’s been a while. It’ll be a fun two days.”
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The test will also allow rookie competitors Mike Conway, Robert Doornbos and Raphael Matos a chance to familiarize themselves with how the Dallara chassis handles on a road course.
Drivers had their only other opportunity for pre-season testing Feb. 24-25 on the 1.5-mile oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Team Penske’s Briscoe paced that test with 2008 champion Dixon a close second. Conway was the fastest rookie at Homestead-Miami, ninth overall.
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