Another IndyCar windscreen test and what’s next

Scott Dixon testing windscreen

The IndyCar series will test the windscreen cockpit protection system for the second time on Monday, April 30 after the planned test session on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

Penske's Josef Newgarden will be behind the wheel this time.

Scott Dixon had completed windscreen testing on Phoenix's oval and reported no issues beyond the change in airflow preventing cooling in the cockpit and minor distortion explained as a consequence of the early prototype.

"It looked like it went really well for Scott [Dixon], I heard no complaints," Newgarden told motorsport.com. "It seemed to go pretty seamlessly from vision to application, so that seems solid.

"I'm very excited and I'll be very upfront and honest with them which is what they're looking for, they just want to get another person's take on it. It's something they can compare.

"It's another evolution of their [IndyCar's] testing. They tested at Phoenix which is a certain speed level and then Indianapolis brings it up to essentially our maximum speed in an Indycar.

"They're getting another person's view but it'll continue the evolution, so they're knocking on two things there."

AutoRacing1.com talked to the man responsible for overseeing the windscreen's design and implementation – Jeff Horton, IndyCar Director of Safety and Engineering – at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend. He talks about next steps for the windscreen, including impact testing, and when we might see it used in race conditions. We also discuss what else his team is working on to improve the car.