IndyCar drivers get traditional extra practice day to circle the IMS oval

The calendar still says April, but the NTT IndyCar Series offers the first real glimpse of May with an Indy 500 test today and tomorrow that will be shown live on Peacock.

With all 32 drivers scheduled to turn laps on the 2.5-mile oval, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will open for business at 11 a.m. ET Wednesday in a seven-hour session. Thursday will feature a six-hour practice starting at 10 a.m. ET.

“I think the biggest thing for all of us is those two days are the start of our month” of May, Arrow McLaren SP driver Pato O’Ward told NBC Sports. “You want to get the car in a happy window, but there is time to get it in the window. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Don’t get frustrated. Be patient. And just try things. See what works and doesn’t.”

Each car-and-driver combination will have nine sets of Firestone Firehawk tires to use. Rookie drivers will have three additional sets; drivers taking refreshers will have two additional sets.

The Rookie Orientation Program is a three-step acclimation session. Drivers must complete 10 laps in the 205-210 mph bracket followed by 15 in the 210-215 mph range and 15 more above 215 mph. Johnson and Grosjean completed their sessions in the fall, making them eligible to participate with the veteran drivers from the outset of the test.

SCHEDULE: Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (veterans 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Rookie Orientation Program and Refresher 1-3 p.m.; open test 4-6 p.m.). Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

TV: All 13 hours of on-track action will be covered by NBC Sports on Peacock Premium.

ENTRY LIST: There are 32 driver-team combinations entered in the test.

AJ Foyt Racing (3): Dalton Kellett, Kyle Kirkwood, JR Hildebrand

Andretti Autosport (5): Marco Andretti, Alexander Rossi, Devlin DeFransceco, Romain Grosjean, Colton Herta

Arrow McLaren SP (3): Juan Pablo Montoya, Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist

Chip Ganassi Racing (5): Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Kanaan, Alex Palou

Dale Coyne Racing (2): David Malukas, Takuma Sato

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (2): Santino Ferrucci, Sage Karam

Ed Carpenter Racing (3): Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Rinus VeeKay

Juncos Hollinger Racing (1): Callum Ilott

Meyer Shank Racing (2): Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (3): Graham Rahal, Jack Harvey, Christian Lundgaard

Team Penske (3): Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Will Power

April 13, 2022

Prior to the usual full week of practice and qualifying for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers will participate in an Open Test from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, April 20 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, April 21 on the famed 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

On Wednesday, veterans will take to the oval from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., with Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests from 1-3 p.m. All participants will have the track available from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday. The track is open to all cars from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday.

Last year Santino Ferrucci wadded up his Rahal Honda practicing for the 2021 Indy 500. Who will it be this year?

The Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing.

The test will be streamed on Peacock Premium for U.S. residents and available on INDYCAR Live! internationally. The INDYCAR Radio Network is also providing coverage.

WHO: NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams and drivers scheduled to participate:

AJ Foyt Racing: Dalton Kellett, Kyle Kirkwood, JR Hildebrand

Andretti Autosport: Marco Andretti, Alexander Rossi, Devlin DeFransceco, Romain Grosjean, Colton Herta

Arrow McLaren SP: Juan Pablo Montoya, Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist

Chip Ganassi Racing: Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Kanaan, Alex Palou

Dale Coyne Racing: David Malukas, Takuma Sato

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Santino Ferrucci, Sage Karam

Ed Carpenter Racing: Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Rinus VeeKay

Juncos Hollinger Racing: Callum Ilott

Meyer Shank Racing: Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Graham Rahal, Jack Harvey, Christian Lundgaard

Team Penske: Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Will Power

WHAT: Open Test on Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval

WHEN: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET), Wednesday, April 20

Veteran drivers: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests: 1-3 p.m.

All drivers: 3-6 p.m.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. (ET), Thursday, April 21

All drivers

WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway