KIS Hosts IZOD IndyCar Series And Firestone Indy Lights Testing

SPARTA, January 13, 2009: Race fans will be able to see a live preview of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 when drivers Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon test their IZOD IndyCar Series machines on Kentucky Speedway’s 1.5-mile tri-oval May 4.

Firestone Indy Lights competitors will open the two-day test on May 3. Sessions are scheduled from noon to 6:00 p.m., both days.

Kentucky Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park (Feb. 23-26) will be the sites of the only open series test sessions this season. A 300-mile IndyCar Series race will conclude Kentucky Speedway’s first Labor Day weekend celebration with the Firestone Indy Lights “Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 100” Sept. 4. The race weekend will open Sept. 3 with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers.”

In addition to the open test sessions, IZOD IndyCar Series teams are allowed as many as six private testing days and a minimum of 800 test miles, depending on the number of full-time cars fielded by the team. Teams can earn 300 bonus test miles by testing a Firestone Indy Lights driver at least 600 miles for a maximum of three private test days.

The IZOD IndyCar Series season opens March 14 on the streets of vibrant Sao Paulo, Brazil. The initial Firestone Indy Lights race will be held March 28 on the picturesque St. Petersburg, Fla., street circuit. The first four races for IZOD IndyCar Series and first three Firestone Indy Lights races will be contested on road/street courses, including the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 11 at the 2.38-mile road course in Birmingham, Ala.

“The way the 2010 schedule allowed for the opportunity for our teams to focus their preseason plans on the road and street course events which open the season,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for the Indy Racing League. “By shifting oval testing to in-season, teams have the option of keeping their equipment in road-course trim until they are ready to focus on the oval portion of the schedule, including the month of May at Indianapolis.”

Fans will be able to view all Kentucky testing from the designated area outside the Turn 3 Fan Center for free.

The speedway will open its 2010 season June 11-12 when the NASCAR Nationwide Series lays claim to the 1.5-mile tri-oval track. The weekend begins with “Drive Smart. Click it or Ticket. Practice Day” on Friday and concludes with the “Meijer 300” Saturday.

Four affordable Kentucky Speedway season ticket plans are on sale now. Plans are priced as low as $139 and include stellar benefits such as the right to renew seat locations for future seasons, parking and infield access passes as well as discounts off the purchase of additional single-race tickets.