In the lead-up to IndyCar’s delayed start to the 2020 season, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal has revealed some details of just how difficult the first race will be for drivers and teams alike.
“I think no doubt whoever is the best prepared is who’s going to have the most success this weekend because really there’s not much practice at all, so it’s kind of flying blind for most of us,” said Rahal.
“Our guys have worked extremely hard. The engineering corps has never stopped working throughout that process, and I hope that we can come out and be very strong.”
After an exceedingly long off-season, the field of drivers will only have two hours of practice before running a flat out qualifying session and taking the green flag in anger alongside the rest of the field. This leaves precious little time for the drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel and get a car setup dialed in.
This is in addition to the unknowns of racing with the Aeroscreen for the first time and learning during the race how much of a problem reflections and glare will be as the sun sets behind the grandstands.
“Everybody needs to respect each other and be careful this weekend because it is the most intense race that we probably do all year,” cautioned the 12-year veteran.
“You combine that with the fact that obviously points are huge. Each and every weekend it’s massive. It is anyway in a normal championship. Obviously this year that’s magnified.”
Even the field’s most experienced drivers will have their work cut out for them this weekend as they navigate one of the season’s toughest tracks with very little seat time.
