IndyCar to test 2028 car on IMS oval for first time
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IndyCar to test 2028 car on IMS oval for first time
Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star
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2 min read
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IndyCar'snew car,the Dallara IR28, will return to the track on Sept. 9 and 10, as the chassis will be tested on an oval for the first time.Indianapolis Motor Speedwayannounced Friday that the IR28's first oval test will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days on the famed 2.5-mile oval.
Alexander Rossi will drive on Sept. 9, and Alex Palou will drive on Sept. 10. The IR28 underwent three days of testing on the IMS road course to begin August, withRossidriving the car on Aug. 1 andPalouon Aug. 2 and 4. As with the road course tests, fans will be able to watch the oval tests from the Turn 2 viewing mounds at IMS. Parking will be free at the IMS Museum lot.
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IndyCarand Dallara hope that the car will eventually break track records, including at IMS – where Arie Luyendyk's one-lap record of 237.498 mph and four-lap qualifying record of 236.986 mph have stood since 1996. After Palou's first day of testing, he said, "I think we're going to break a lot of IndyCar records on all kinds of tracks."
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) waits in the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) talks with Dallara crew members on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) answers questions on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) answers questions Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
The new Indy car is pushed out to pit lane on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Crew members blow water out the of the garage on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) watches a Dallara crew member work on the car on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Crewmembers push Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) is pushed to the track Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) waits in the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
1/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) waits in the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
1/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) waits in the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
2/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) talks with Dallara crew members on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
3/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
4/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) answers questions on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
5/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
6/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) answers questions Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
7/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
The new Indy car is pushed out to pit lane on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
8/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Crew members blow water out the of the garage on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
9/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
10/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) watches a Dallara crew member work on the car on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
11/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Crewmembers push Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) is pushed to the track Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
12/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) waits in the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, ahead of testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
13/13
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou tests the new IR28 Indy car
Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou (10) takes the Indy car out of the garage Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, during testing the new IR28 Indy car on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
After a series of initial tests for Dallara and IndyCar, the chassis will be sent to IndyCar's two engine manufacturers – Chevrolet and Honda – in late 2026 or early 2027. The manufacturers will then be allowed to complete the development of their new 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines into the car for testing before the new hybrid powertrain is added as well. Teams will receive the chassis for the first time in June 2027.
