IndyCar Modifies Practice Format at Barber Motorsports Park
The IndyCar Series has announced a significant adjustment to its opening road and street course practice sessions, specifically for this weekend’s event at Barber Motorsports Park. The aim is to promote increased on-track activity during Friday’s afternoon session.
The first segment of practice, previously lasting 45 minutes, will be reduced to 40 minutes. In an effort to enhance competitive simulation, the second phase will now allocate 12 minutes per group for the 27-car field, an increase from the previous 10 minutes. This change is designed to mitigate time spent in the pits as teams typically conserve tire sets for qualifying and the race.
This new format was communicated during a meeting between series officials and team managers on Tuesday. While discussions also anticipated addressing tire usage requirements for the upcoming Indianapolis Grand Prix on May 10, this aspect was not broached.
Reports indicate that a proposal to mandate drivers to complete two laps each on both Firestone’s primary and alternate tire compounds on separate occasions—effectively doubling existing requirements—met with skepticism earlier this season. Whether this proposal will resurface for the Indy GP remains uncertain.
These adjustments reflect the series’ ongoing efforts to optimize practice formats and enhance the racing experience for teams and fans alike.
