IndyCar test coming to Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course

The chances that the IndyCar Series may someday compete on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway increased over the weekend when track president Doug Boles told Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star that at least one Indy car will test on the circuit in early September.

Cavin reported that the track is considering Sept. 4 and 6 for the test date and that the car will run in both directions around the course to determine whether it’s compatible for the IndyCar Series.

Formula 1 went clockwise around the track last decade and MotoGP -- which completed a turn at the Speedway over the weekend -- ran counterclockwise. The track action at the road course for the F1 cars was not particularly well-received by the fans and some drivers would rather see other tracks be considered.

For example, Josef Newgarden told SB Nation that he thought the Series would be better served running a street course race, at night, in downtown Indianapolis. Other drivers have suggested that the IMS road course would need several improvements in order to host the IndyCar Series as well.

Series officials have hinted at the possibility of making improvements to the current existing road course but any decision will likely not be made until after the September test concludes. IndyCar has been internally debating an early May doubleheader next season that would feature the IndyCar Series and the soon to be launched United Sports Car Racing organization that would open the month of May, leading up to the Indianapolis 500.

The idea is an alternative to running a second race on the oval, at night, if the Speedway opts to install lights around the 2.5-mile oval facility for the Brickyard 400.

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