Drivers uncertain how screen will work

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Drivers uncertain how screen will work

Sat, 06/06/2020 - 14:30
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Graham Rahal admits he is nervous about Saturday’s race.

“We feel really good about where we’re at with those,” IndyCar President Jay Frye said. “It’s a total driver safety solution and no expense has been spared.”

Twenty-seven drivers used the protective halo during a two-day test on the Circuit of the Americas, a road course in Austin, Texas, that was limited because of bad weather. Afterward, defending series champion Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske told reporters the windscreen added more weight to the front and changed the balance of the car.

Drivers believe they will have to continue making adjustments throughout the season, adjustments that already could be in place if not for the COVID-19 shutdown. Series officials made one change following the February test by adding an anti-glare component to the device.

The screen was supposed to make its debut in the milder March temperatures of Florida and on the slower road course at St. Petersburg. Instead, the revised schedule moved the introduction to Texas, a high-speed oval and a race known for its searing heat. Saturday’s forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-90s when drivers will be holding practice and qualifying before the race at night.

“Obviously, Texas is a really hot race, and it’s already pretty physically demanding just because of that fact,” 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi said. “With the screen, it’s going to be quite a bit hotter, so is it going to make that big of a difference or not? We haven’t really tested it, so we don’t really know.”

Throughout testing, some drivers complained the titanium rod from the center of the cockpit split the sight lines into two frames. But as time went on, drivers acknowledged, they got used to it. Drivers also had a chance to work with the new screen on simulators during the brief iRacing series.

They know, however, that the simulator is not the same thing and the only way to get real answers is time on the track.

“It’s an incredible innovation from IndyCar,” said Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe, Rossi’s teammate with Andretti Autosport. “There are a lot of question marks still. We haven’t run it on an oval, we haven’t run it at night, so we’re all going to kind of be learning on the fly.” Naturally, drivers will use different strategies Saturday.

Zach Veach, who also races for Andretti, plans to use tinted tear-offs on his visor to battle any sun glare, as he has the last two years at Texas. Charlie Kimball is hoping he can get acclimated quickly enough with his new team, A.J. Foyt Racing, to compete for the win.

Rahal will just try to make the best of it.

“We’ve never done a oneday thing without proper testing, and the windshield, as well, the aeroscreen, especially for the race starting slightly early is unusual, which means I think we have direct sun, too,” Rahal said. “How it’s going to affect us, we just don’t know. But hopefully we are capable enough to make a great show for it.”