IRLblog.com

photo: AP

Next week the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy lights return to Homestead Miami Speedway for open testing.  The Firestone Indy lights will run Monday and Tuesday during the day with the IndyCar Series running from the late afternoon into the early night Tuesday and Wednesday.  This test usually preceeds the season opener in Miami, but this year Miami will crown the 2009 IndyCar Series Champion on October 10 under the lights.  IRLblog will be on site covering the test sessions.

The testing schedule for Homestead is as follows:

Monday February 23

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Firestone Indy lights rookies

Tuesday February 24

9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. — Firestone Indy lights

4 p.m. – 10 p.m. — IndyCar Series

Wednesday February 25

4 p.m. – 10 p.m. — IndyCar Series

For a complete entrant list you can click below
Firestone Indy lights participant list
IndyCar Series participant list

This test is open to the public and is free of charge to attend.  Viewing is from the club level seats of the grandstands only and free popcorn and hotdogs will be served.

Wow! Who would have thought that the 2008 IndyCar season would be as eventful as memorable as it turned out to be. It will definitely go down in history as one to remember. From the last minute Champ Car merger weeks before the season opener at Homestead Miami Speedway all the way through Helio Castroneves drive from last place to first place at the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway. This year has also been a year of firsts. Graham Rahal went on to become the youngest winner in open wheel history with his first IndyCar Series start on the Streets of St. Petersburg. Danica Patrick went on to be the first female in open wheel history to win an event, doing so at Twin Ring Motegi when she passed Helio Castroneves with just a few laps left in her 50th IndyCar Series start and Ana Beatriz became the first woman in the Firestone Indy Lights to win an event at Nashville Superspeedway. It is going to be tough to top the eventful history making 2008 season.