Fourteen-round IndyCar campaign begins in Texas on Saturday night and Sunday morning on Sky F1; Aeroscreen debuts, McLaren return full-time, Texan race running without fans
Sunday 7 June 2020 06:55, UK
Real-life racing will return to Sky Sports F1 this weekend as IndyCar begins its delayed season with a full day of action at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Nearly three months after the planned season opener in St. Petersburg was postponed amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, IndyCar's return in Texas will see practice, qualifying and the race take place on the same day in a revised condensed weekend schedule for this year.
All sessions are live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event.
The behind-closed-doors event, the Genesys 300, features a 24-car field and will mark the debut of McLaren's new full-time entry under Arrow McLaren SP.
Coverage begins at 6.30pm-8pm with Practice, before Qualifying starts at 10pm.
The race show is Sunday morning UK time at 1am, with 200 laps of the famous Texas oval.
Josef Newgarden is the series' defending champion and will be going for a third crown in four seasons with Team Penske. Newgarden also won last year's Texan race.
The weekend also makes the debut for the Red Bull-designed Aeroscreen on the 2020 IndyCars, the canopy-style device aimed at improving cockpit safety for drivers.
Like F1, IndyCar turned to the virtual world to fill the racing void of recent months with their iRacing challenge proving popular and featuring most of the championship's drivers.
IndyCar president Jay Frye said of the series' return: "We've worked closely with Eddie Gossage [circuit president], the entire TMS team and public health officials on a plan of action that will 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."
IndyCar has scheduled a revised 14-round season for 2020, with the showpiece Indy 500 moved to August 23. The calendar features three double headers, with all events running to a single day.
July 6: Genesys 300, Texas Motor Speedway
July 4: GMR Grand Prix, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
July 11: REV Group Grand Prix at Road America Race 1, Road America
July 12: REV Group Grand Prix at Road America Race 2, Road America
July 17: Iowa Speedway Race 1, Iowa Speedway
July 18: Iowa 300, Iowa Speedway
August 9: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
August 23: Indy 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 30: Bommarito Automotive Group 500, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
September 13: Grand Prix of Portland, Portland International Raceway
September 19: Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
September 20: Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
October 3: IndyCar Harvest Grand Prix, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
October 25: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg street course
The Formula 1 season will begin on July 3-5 live on Sky Sports F1 with the Austrian GP. The race is the first of eight in 10 weeks in Europe, with every race live on Sky Sports.
