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IndyCar oval debuts for Luca Filippi and Matthew Brabham in test

Luca Filippi and Matthew Brabham are both set to drive an Indycar on an oval for the first time on Wednesday when they take part in oval evaluation runs at Iowa Speedway

IndyCar rules allow entrants two special test days for rookie drivers in addition to their regular testing allocation.

Filippi has made 16 IndyCar starts in the past, including eight this year as the road/street course specialist in CFH Racing's #20 entry, which is normally raced on ovals by Ed Carpenter.

"He's been on us pretty hard to do a test and he's been doing a really good job and showing the potential that we knew he had," said Carpenter, who will set the car up for the test.

"At this point in the schedule there's an opportunity to go give an evaluation as we're looking ahead to next year and what our option might be.

"It just seemed like a good thing to do to have him show us what he can do on an oval."

Brabham's outing will be his first proper test in an Indycar, although he drove Ryan Hunter-Reay's car during a filming day earlier in the year.

The 2013 Pro Mazda champion has 17 Indy Lights starts with Andretti Autosport to his credit, and his opportunity comes through the IndyCar rule that permits teams two additional test days to evaluate a Lights driver.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," said Brabham. "I've dreamed about driving an Indycar my whole life, ever since they started racing at the Gold Coast.

"There is a lot of stuff Andretti Autosport wants to go through and I want to be a beneficial person to the team. I'm definitely ready."

Andretti's car will be set up by Marco Andretti, who finished third at Fontana last weekend.

Under series rules, Andretti will not be permitted to use up more than 50 per cent of the total available track time.

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