[Update: Rain has stopped and a new timeline has been published for Saturday:
1:00-2:00 PM CT NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice
4:30-5:30 PM CT NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying
7:15-8:15 PM CT NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice]
The first practice session of IndyCar’s weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway has been delayed on account of persistent rain.
The rain is not consistent, but small showers continue to move through the area and add extra moisture to the 1.25-mile oval.
Because Gateway is an oval track, the series is unable to run at all when the track surface is anything but completely dry.
The track has a fleet of jet dryer pickup trucks that have been circulating to help dry the asphalt.
But high humidity and light winds are not contributing to the solution, and it could take some time before the track is dry enough to complete any high speed running.
IndyCar is joined by a couple support series this weekend, including IndyNXT and the USAC Silver Crown series.
The weekend agenda called for a busy Saturday as the three series traded off running laps on the banked oval. Sunday’s schedule does not begin until the afternoon, however, leaving a potential opening to move sessions to the following day if needed.
IndyCar practice was originally scheduled to take place at 10:30 AM central time, but teams were told to remain in the garage area as that time approached.
It is unknown at this time if sessions will be canceled or merely moved around throughout the day.
Sunday’s forecast is better, with sunny skies predicted and only a very slight chance of showers moving through.
