IndyCar is heading into the unknown as it prepares to use the Aeroscreen head protection device at night for the first time, according to Ganassi veteran Scott Dixon.
After a lengthy disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NTT IndyCar Series will kick back into life this weekend (June 6) at Texas Motor Speedway, where the Aeroscreen run in competition for the first time.
IndyCar has condensed the weekend’s racing action into just one day, which also includes bringing the race one hour forward, meaning drivers will begin just as the sun is setting.
“I think the unknown is we’ve never really run at night with the Aeroscreen,” said Dixon.
“I think it should be pretty good. I think with some of the testing that we had done even at Indianapolis, Richmond, then a bunch in the road course kind of platform.
“They moved the race starting time up by an hour so you’re going to have that transition from the light. It could be a bit of an issue.”
Dixon is one of the drivers with the most experience of using the Aeroscreen, having conducted several simulation tests with Dallara, along with spending several hours on the track running both ovals and road courses.
“Honestly, some of those things we kind of witnessed a little bit of that at COTA when the practice session ended quite late,” he added.
“There were some pieces that you could kind of put on the screen to help with some of the reflection. That was better.
“I think the short answer is I think we’re going to be perfectly fine. There’s always the opportunity of an unknown that trips a couple of people up. I think it’s going to be perfectly fine.”
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