FORT WORTH, Texas — IndyCar has gotten the green flag to finally start its season in Texas next month with a night race without spectators.
The June 6 race at Texas Motor Speedway was the next on the series schedule that hadn’t been postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. IndyCar and track officials announced Thursday that the race will be held.
IndyCar president Jay Frye said the series has worked closely with TMS president Eddie Gossage, his track and public health officials on a plan to “ensure the safety of our event participants alongside an exciting return to competition for our drivers, teams and viewers tuning in from around the world.”
Texas has hosted IndyCar races since the 1 1/2-mile track opened in 1997. The track used to have the first race after the Indianapolis 500, and it hosted two races a year from 1998 to 2004, including the series finale the last six years of that stretch.
The June season opener will run a condensed schedule with practice, qualifying and the race taking place on the same day. There will be strict access guidelines limiting the number of personnel on site, with a health screening system administered to all participants and personal protection equipment provided to everyone entering the facility.
Social distancing protocols will be in place and will be carefully maintained.