IndyCar
IRL: Indy 500 Rookie orientation program Easter weekend
NINE DRIVERS EXPECTED FOR INDY ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - Nine rookie drivers are expected to take an important step toward the 85th Indianapolis 500 by participating in the Rookie Orientation Program on ...
Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:47 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
NINE DRIVERS EXPECTED FOR INDY ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - Nine rookie drivers are expected to take an important step toward the 85th Indianapolis 500 by participating in the Rookie Orientation Program on April 13-14 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Testing starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. each day, with a break from noon-1 p.m. Drivers expected to participate are: Didier Andre (Galles Racing), Helio Castroneves (Penske Racing), Brandon Erwin (McCormack Motorsports), Felipe Giaffone (Treadway-Hubbard Racing), Shigeaki Hattori (Vertex/Cunningham Racing), Jon Herb (Tri Star Motorsports), Bruno Junqueira (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), Nicolas Minassian (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) and Cory Witherill (Indy Regency Racing).
ROP provides newcomers a chance to pass their rookie test before May, when the 2.5-mile oval becomes crowded with veterans trying to find the necessary speed to qualify for the race.
"Because of the unique features of this racetrack, it's a 225-mph flat racetrack with an incredibly narrow margin for error, and with the sheer number of cars on the track during May, the rookies need this time by themselves to get acclimated to the track," said Brian Barnhart, vice president of operations for the Indy Racing League.
"From a safety standpoint, when the rookies are doing phase one and only going 195-200 mph, we don't want a veteran coming up behind them going 35 mph faster."
Rookie tests have been mandatory for new drivers since 1936. Drivers are required to complete the first three of four phases of the Rookie Orientation Program before they are cleared to begin practice during the month of May. They can complete the final phase of the test during official Indianapolis 500 practice.
Drivers must complete 10 laps at each of these speed phases while showing control of the car under the eye of veteran observers Al Unser, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and Johnny Rutherford, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and other Indy Racing veterans: <pre> *Phase 1: 195-200 mph *Phase 2: 200-205 mph *Phase 3: 205-210 mph *Phase 4: More than 210 mph </pre> In addition to the rookie test, new drivers can consult with Rutherford, Unser and veteran Indy Racing drivers in order to become better educated about the track. Passenger cars will be available April 12 for drivers to tour the oval, with the coaches and veterans or by themselves. A drivers' meeting also will be conducted for the rookies.
Castroneves is not required to participate in ROP due to his veteran status in CART, but he will turn laps to gain experience due the team's limited private testing schedule with Indy Racing League equipment.
Junqueira and Minassian of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, winners of the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Montoya, only need to complete the last two phases of ROP due to extensive previous testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"Because they are considered rookies in CART, they are also considered rookies in the Indy Racing League," said Barnhart. "They have done some private testing, however, and they will only be required to do the last two phases because they have each done over 400 miles here."
Hattori also only needs to complete the final two phases, Barnhart said. Hattori completed the Rookie Orientation Program last year with Treadway Racing but did not participate in the event in May.
OPEN TEST NOTEBOOK
*Anniversary: Although passing a rookie test has been mandatory since 1936, this year is the 20th anniversary of the first Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
David Psachie, who co-owned cars for 1981 rookies Josele Garza and Geoff Brabham, talked with then-IMS President John Cooper about forming a testing program to give rookies a chance to complete their rookie test before the veterans took to the track for practice. Cooper agreed, and since then, ROP has taken place before the first official day of practice at IMS.
*Fans welcome: Spectators are welcome to watch the Rookie Orientation Program from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free of charge. Seating will be available in the South Terrace bleachers on the inside of the track adjacent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
-IRNLS/IMS-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article CHAMPCAR/CART: Fernandez visits Texas Motor Speedway
Next article CHAMPCAR/CART: FedEx Fanatics contest at Texas Motor Speedway
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Helio Castroneves
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Where will Kevin Magnussen rank among the Project 91 NASCAR drivers?
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
San Diego
Where will Kevin Magnussen rank among the Project 91 NASCAR drivers?
The five closest Indy 500 finishes in history
IndyCar
IndyCar
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
The five closest Indy 500 finishes in history
More from
Team Penske
Palou pushes IndyCar’s IR-28 chassis to the limit in rugged Sebring test
IndyCar
IndyCar 11 h
Palou pushes IndyCar’s IR-28 chassis to the limit in rugged Sebring test
'Team Cadillac' strategy delivers dual IMSA manufacturer titles for General Motors
IMSA
IMSA
Petit Le Mans
'Team Cadillac' strategy delivers dual IMSA manufacturer titles for General Motors
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Latest news
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 2 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Feature
Discover prime content
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe