Night race test a success for FIA

Late on Thursday night, using a lighting set-up at the first few corners of the Indianapolis circuit, the FIA conducted a surprise hour of testing with safety cars to evaluate whether a night race was feasible.

American company Musco Lighting, which provides sporting lights to NASCAR, Champ Car and IRL events, was brought in to help provide equipment for the test.

As well as checking on potential visibility for drivers, evaluation was also made for trackside marshals, wet weather implications and television cameras.

Although there has been no official response about the success of the test, sources have confirmed that the FIA is happy with how the event went.

"It went very well - better than we anticipated, in fact," an FIA source told autosport.com. "We didn't see any problems and it helped us understand a few things.

"Marshals were out there - just with normal flags and, if anything, they were more visible than they are normally."

Bernie Ecclestone is hoping to hold F1's first night race in Singapore next year, but the FIA has made it clear that an event in the dark will only happen if it is completely safe.

It is understood, however, that if the positive results of the first test are repeated in further evaluations then there should be little problem in a night race going ahead.