IndyCar to continue experimenting with first practice format at Long Beach

The NTT IndyCar Series will try a different version of its 75-minute opening practice format in Long Beach this weekend to the one it trialed in St. Petersburg. The idea for the new format was pitched by its drivers during its preseason meetings.

At St. Petersburg, teams were given the first 20 minutes to run as they pleased with the 27 cars in attendance before pitting and after a five-minute pause, the remainder of the session split the field into alternating groups that ran for 10 minutes apiece.