IndyCar’s new IR-28 Dallara chassis is scheduled to be subjected to its next round of tests next week.
Initial evaluation tests have been completed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway up to this point, with runs taking place on the road course and the 2.5-mile oval.
Testing will move to Sebring International Raceway on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
The course in central Florida presents a very different set of challenges, swapping smooth and sweeping asphalt for bumpy and worn surfaces that includes concrete.
The short course of Sebring is commonly used by IndyCar teams for testing purposes as it closely simulates the rough and tumble nature of a street course.
Street courses are temporary constructs, however, and are not available to testing away from the actual race weekends. Sebring steps in to provide that necessary testing arena.
In this case, the new car’s suspension strength and handling characteristics will be put to the test to ensure it can survive on all track types the series visits throughout a season.
Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi will once again climb behind the wheel of the new car, continuing their roles as primary development drivers for the IR-28.
Both drivers have praised the new chassis up to this point, and feel the car is well on its way to being ready for the 2028 season.
Also on track at Sebring will be Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood and Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin.
The two drivers will be helping complete a Firestone tire test in current-spec cars, running a completely separate program from the IR-28 evaluations happening concurrently.
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