The NTT IndyCar series has confirmed that it will begin its 2020 season by holding its first event at Texas Motor Speedway on June 6, in line with the latest schedule that was released in early April.
The event will not be a run according to a standard weekend schedule, however, with major modifications being implemented to all aspects of the event.
The largest change will be that all on-track running will take place over the course of a single day. Practice, qualifying, and the shortened race, 200 laps instead of 248, will all take place on Saturday, June 6. The race was originally scheduled to be a night race, so the evening timing of the main event is not a concern.
Drivers will now be expected to return eight months after their last race and get comfortable enough with their cars on the high-speed oval to hold a race on that same day as their return.
Other changes include no fans in the stands, a strict limit to the number of personnel on site, health screening for all participants, PPE provided to everyone at the facility, and carefully maintained social distancing measures throughout the entire track.
“We’re excited and ready to kick off the NTT IndyCar series season at Texas Motor Speedway,” IndyCar President Jay Frye said.
“We’ve worked closely with Eddie Gossage, the entire TMS team and public health officials on a plan of action that will ensure the safety of our event participants alongside an exciting return to competition for our drivers, teams and viewers tuning in from around the world.”
Television coverage will be provided by NBCSN as usual, but it is unknown at this time how many other media members will be allowed to attend in person.
In addition to this first race at Texas Motor Speedway, the remainder of the shortened 2020 race calendar that was announced in early April will also go ahead as planned. This includes a replacement for the opening round that never happened on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, this time as a season finale in October.
