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Rookies to get extra practice session

Rookies and drivers outside the top ten in the championship will be able to take part in an additional practice session at most IndyCar Series events this year

Starting from round two at Long Beach, the eligible drivers will get an extra morning session of either 30 or 45 minutes on the first day of each meeting, before the opening full field practice session.

Indy Racing League president of competition Brian Barnhart hopes the new session will help make the field more competitive and assist teams who have inexperienced drivers.

"We're trying things that help encourage new drivers in the series, in particular drivers advancing from Firestone Indy Lights," said Barnhart.

"With the economy the way it is and limited testing, one of the byproducts is that teams can't afford to - or through rules - can't test very often, which makes an owner less inclined to take a chance on an unproven driver or rookie.

"So you respond with extra track time that doesn't cost anything; it's at a race event weekend. If you're out of the top 10 in points, it's more of a competition issue. Instead of going testing, we're trying to give an opportunity to close the gap on the top 10 in points by giving extra track time."

The additional session will be held at every event bar the St Petersburg season-opener and the Indianapolis 500. All rookies already have to take part in an extra orientation test before the Indy 500 practice days commence.

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