IndyCar to test tires for 100th Indy 500 on Wednesday
The 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET session will incorporate a Firestone tire test to be conducted with Marco Andretti in the No. 27 Andretti Autosport Honda and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves in the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet, along with four drivers participating in team testing on the 2.5-mile oval.
Five of the drivers who will turn laps are Verizon IndyCar Series championship contenders with two races left in the 2015 season.
According to Rule 6.5.8 of the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook, in-season tire testing will be under INDYCAR-approved special circumstances only. If approved, participation is restricted to two days per team by invitation from Firestone. All teams are permitted to have one car participate in team testing that runs concurrently with the tire test.
The Chevrolet-powered cars of Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing), Ed Carpenter (No. 20 CFH Racing) and Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Team Penske), along with the Honda-powered car of Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 28 Andretti Autosport), are scheduled to participate in team testing.
Firestone annually tests at IMS "as we're continuously seeking to innovate and make the tire better and make sure we're prepared for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500," according to Dale Harrigle, chief engineer for Bridgestone Americas Motorsports and manager of race tire development.
"We have a right- and left-side compound to evaluate. We have 24 different specs of tires to evaluate and that will make up 10 sets of tires," Harrigle said, adding that introduction of aerodynamic bodywork components to the race cars this year makes testing to determine the 2016 IMS oval tire compounds more essential.
"It's about how to improve the tire to give the drivers a better feel with the aero kits," he said. "It's also to make sure we're comfortable with the speeds that we'll be running next year. I expect to see an increase in speed with just the continuation of development of the aero kits and the engines."
The tire specification selected for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 29, 2016, will be unique to the racetrack. The left-side tire specification used at this year's Indy 500 also will be used in the penultimate race of the Verizon IndyCar Series season Aug. 23 on the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway tri-oval.
Cars participating in the team test will run with the rear wheel guard infills that were added for Indianapolis 500 qualifications and the 200-lap race in May as a safety element.
Fans may watch the test from the South Vista grandstand and the Turn 2 viewing mounds. There is no admission charge.