INDYCAR is testing its new Aeroscreen today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing and 2014 series champion Will Power of Team Penske – both Indianapolis 500 winners – are testing the revolutionary cockpit protection Aeroscreen that will be implemented on all cars for the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season.

Dixon tested an Aeroscreen prototype on a simulator July 2 at the Dallara Research Center in Speedway. Dallara is an official INDYCAR supplier.

The Aeroscreen has been developed in collaboration with Red Bull Advanced Technologies. The driver safety innovation encompassing the cockpit is comprised of a ballistic Aeroscreen anchored by titanium framework.

The Aeroscreen is the second phase of INDYCAR’s effort to further enhance driver safety in the open-cockpit race cars. INDYCAR debuted the Advanced Front Protection (AFP) device for the INDYCAR Grand Prix that was held May 11 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The 3-inch-tall titanium AFP was manufactured by Dallara to help deflect debris away from the cockpit area and the driver. The piece was used in this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

The RBAT design consists of a polycarbonate laminated screen that includes an anti-reflective coating on the interior of the screen, an anti-fogging device through an integral heating element and tear-offs, all of which will be produced by integrated third-party companies. Another feature for the drivers will be a cockpit-cooling duct designed by Dallara in their CFD.

The titanium framework mounts in three areas around the cockpit: the chassis centerline, two rear side mounts and roll hoop integration to provide enhanced load-bearing capabilities.

INDYCAR has scheduled additional Aeroscreen tests at Barber Motorsports Park, a permanent road course, on Oct. 7; Richmond Raceway, a short oval, on Oct. 15; and Sebring International Raceway, a road course which can simulate a street circuit, on Nov. 5. Aeroscreens are to be delivered to all NTT IndyCar Series teams before the end of the year.

Previously, INDYCAR conducted extensive testing with a windscreen concept developed in conjunction with PPG Aerospace, including on-track sessions in 2018 at ISM Raceway in Phoenix and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The drivers who tested the windscreen did not report any issue but additional comprehensive testing at PPG’s facility in Huntsville, Ala., revealed additional work needed before implementation. INDYCAR provided the research and on-track testing information from the project to RBAT for the development of the current design.