This morning, I am heading out of town early to head up to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual Open Test on the IMS oval. I first started attending the Open Test in April of 2018. I’ve not been to every one of them since. I know I missed one in 2020, if they even had one – but I think I’ve missed one or even two others since 2018.
This year, this will be my first time to any race track this season.
I love going to Open Tests, even though the weather doesn’t always cooperate. To me, the Open Test is the unofficial beginning of the Month of May. The mounds and even a stand or two at the south end will be open for spectators. I am lucky enough to be able to be in the Media Center as well as the pits and garage area for the two days of testing.
The last time I was at IMS was the last day for most of us – Race Day 2025. My last experience there was spending all day with almost 400,000 other fans. While enjoyable, it can also be exhausting and somewhat overwhelming. The next two days will be nothing like that. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find another day of track activity with so few people around.
The Pagoda Plaza will be empty, except for some crews putting on some last minute touches, trying to get the place all spiffed up for May. This was the sight I saw behind The Pagoda when I was there for the test in 2018.
Everyone is in a good mood and so laid back for the Open Test. It’s how I would imagine the way Spring Training would start out for a Major League Baseball club. The only time I have seen teams get concerned is when the weather report gets dire. It seems there was about a three-year stretch where weather affected one or both days. Usually they get in Day One, but Day Two gets rained out before it even starts.
That was not the case last year. Last year, it was sunny and hot and the teams got in two full days of running
Last year was the first time Susan had ever been to the Open Test. She enjoyed Day One, but by lunch time of Day Two, she was ready to hit the road. She made it abundantly clear to me that I get a much bigger thrill out of watching cars go by in practice, than she does. She has to work this year, but I have an idea she would’ve stayed home this time anyway.
The weather forecast looks decent if it holds. Tuesday will be partly cloudy with a high of 71°. It is supposed to rain overnight, creating a green race track for Wednesday. It will be partly sunny, but cooler on Wednesday with a high of only 64°. While that sounds cool, it was much cooler than that for last year’s race.
Practice gets underway with the IndyCar veterans taking the track from 10:00 am to Noon EDT. I hope to arrive by 10:00 or shortly thereafter. Rookies and refreshers get their turn from Noon until 2:00 pm EDT. Hen from 2:00 pm EDT until 6:00 pm EDT, all cars will take to the track. On Wednesday, all cars will be on track from 10:00 am to Noon EDT. Then after an hour break for lunch, all cars will return to the track from 1:00 pm EDT to 5:00 pm EDT. The last hour on Wednesday will serve as pit-stop practice.
Both full days will be streamed live on You Tube. Click here for Day One (Tuesday) and here for Day Two (Wednesday).
I will be posting from the track both days. Please check back here often over the next two days.
George Phillips
