IndyCar reduces in-season testing for 2017

The tests will be heldFeb. 10-11 at Phoenix International Raceway, March 21 at Barber Motorsports Park, May 2 at Gateway Motorsports Park and Sept. 14 at Sonoma Raceway.

The in-season testing window, in which teams are allowed one additional day, is April 11-Sept. 17, 2017. The off-season test window, in which teams can test just three days, runs from Oct. 3 through April 6.

Rookie drivers will receive four additional test days, and teams can earn a further extra day by running a current Indy Lights driver, and another by operating an Indy Lights team under the same ownership as their IndyCar team.

New teams entering the Verizon IndyCar Series would be allowed up to four additional test days.

Tire testing will be restricted to just two days, either in-season or off-season, with no more than two teams participating. All teams are permitted to have one car conduct team testing during an in-season tire test. Engine testing for Chevrolet and Honda is limited to two days for each manufacturer in the off-season window.

Jay Frye, IndyCar’s president of competition and operations, said: “We collaborated with all of our teams on the 2017 testing regulations with the goal of minimizing the amount of in-season testing.

“The majority of testing will take place at a series of open tests, which have been strategically routed to coincide with our race schedule. As we finalized our regulations, the focus was on making our test schedule more efficient and minimizing the overall demands on the crews during the year.”

The biggest step forward is that the Sonoma test, unlike this year or previous years, will be held on the Thursday before race weekend, so that the teams can just work four straight days at the track. Today’s test is being held 10 days before the race, so although teams are leaving their haulers and cars here, the crews fly home, then return next Thursday.