Hinchcliffe: Gateway return is huge for IndyCar

Seven Verizon IndyCar Series drivers and eight cars hit the Madison, Ill. short-oval today, in a tire test for Firestone Racing. Sebastien Bourdais took his first laps on his return to Dale Coyne Racing-Honda, and Josef Newgarden made his first oval test for Team Penske-Chevrolet, having tested at Road America on Monday.

Alongside them were faces in familiar places – Marco Andretti (Andretti Autosport), Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda), Hinchcliffe (SPM-Honda), Tony Kanaan (Ganassi-Chevrolet) and Ed Carpenter in both his cars – his regular #20, and the #21 vacated by Newgarden.

Said Hinchcliffe: “I think it's huge for IndyCar and also exciting for me to come to a new track. We always love doing that. And especially one that has so much history with Indy car racing.

“I've seen old races from here at Gateway and I've heard a lot of stories from the old-timers who've raced here and it's always exciting when we get to come back."

"I'm thrilled we have IndyCar here again today," said Curtis Francois, owner and president of Gateway Motorsports Park. "It's a dream come true.

“As a fan, as a racer, as a track owner, I couldn't ask for anything more than to see these open-wheel cars running almost 200mph around Gateway Motorsports Park.

"It is so important that the fans get a great show. With a unified IndyCar, you're getting the best open-wheel racing in the United States. Without a doubt, this is going to be the most exciting oval race we've ever had in St. Louis."

Firestone’s new chief engineer and manager of race tire development Cara Adams said: “Our intent in coming to Gateway today is to understand the needs of the Gateway track surface and make sure we apply the appropriate tire specifications for the upcoming race.