By: Spencer Neff
October 11, 2023

Just over a month into the 2023-24 offseason, preparations are ramping up for the upcoming season.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host Rookie Orientation Programs for four eligible drivers on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Thursday and Friday, the track will be utilized for select Chevrolet and Honda teams to run the hybrid technology slated to be utilized by the 2.2-liter V6 engines.

Rookie Orientation Programs

Four drivers will be on track to complete their Rookie Orientation Programs in order to be eligible to practice and race in the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 26.

Linus Lundqvist of Chip Ganassi Racing is the only driver to have competed on an oval. Lundqvist finished 18th at Worldwide Technology Raceway on August 27 after starting 12th for Meyer Shank Racing.

Lundqvist’s teammate Marcus Armstrong and Meyer Shank Racing driver Tom Blomqvist completed an oval test at Texas Motor Speedway on September 13.

Larson will not be required to complete any on-track time before Thursday’s test due to his oval experience, primarily in NASCAR.

Larson is trying to join John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch as they only drivers to attempt the Indianapolis 500/Coca-Cola 600 “Double”.

Kyffin Simpson of Chip Ganassi Racing, the only rookie driver besides Lundqvist and Blopmqvist confirmed to a full-time ride in 2024, will need to run at another oval before he begins his Rookie Orientation Program.

The program consists of three phases: 10 laps at 205-210 mph., 15 laps at 210-215 mph and 15 laps over 215 mph.

Armstrong, Blomqvist and Lundqvist have sessions from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. on Wednesday to complete their ROP. Larson will be on track from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday.

Hybrid Testing

The largest (field size) test of the impeding change will include six drivers spread out between Thursday and Friday.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and Team Penske’s Will Power are slated to run both days. Andretti Global will have Colton Herta run on Thursday with Marcus Ericsson behind the wheel on Friday.

Arrow McLaren will have Alexander Rossi on track for Thursday with David Malukas running for the team on Friday.

Thursday’s sessions will be from 9-11 a.m. and 2-6 p.m. On Friday, testing will be split between a 9-noon session and a 2-5 p.m. run.

Racecontrol.indycar.com will have live timing and scoring for Wednesday and Thursday’s ROP Sessions. The stands and spectator mounds between Turns 1 and 2 at IMS will be open for spectator viewing.

Header Image By Doug Mathews/INDYCAR