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Last updated on Wednesday, February 27, 2008
(HOMESTEAD, FL) - IndyCar series spring training begins today at Homestead-Miami Speedway in South Florida.
Day one of testing will begin with a news conference with Indy Racing League founder Tony George and former Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven to discuss the open wheel unification agreement finalized last Friday.
One question that is not expected to be answered this afternoon is the final makeup of the IndyCar schedule. Schedule conflicts, specifically the logjam in April when the Indycars are scheduled to compete in Japan while the champ cars are scheduled for Long Beach, were one of the main sticking points in reaching a final agreement.
Fifteen cars are scheduled to participate in the test - all were aligned with the IndyCar series before the merger. None of the former Champ Car teams are ready for this week's test and the series officials have set up testing dates in March at Sebring and Homestead for those teams.
The nine former Champ Car teams were all present for an orientation meeting Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During that meeting, IRL President of comPetition Brian Barnhart said that the former Champ Car teams will partner with current IndyCar series teams, who will provide technical support for oval races.
The Champ Car World Series did not run any oval races last year.
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