Closer racing with the expectation for more passing should make for an entertaining INDYCAR Grand Prix on Saturday, according to three of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ best drivers.

Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud and Will Power — who have split the four wins in this race — were joined by four-time Indy car champion Sebastien Bourdais of Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan in expressing their eagerness Thursday about competing in a more wide-open 85-lap event on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

So far in four races this season, the cars with sleek, new universal aero kits have accounted for more than double the number of on-track passes (999) compared to this juncture last season (475). The 2018 cars have less downforce, which among other things has enabled drivers to make up distance more easily in the draft while also creating different braking areas in the turns.

“It was really difficult to get to anyone in the last couple of years with the (old) aero kit,” Bourdais said. “We’ve definitely seen that this car is a lot less impacted following someone. The draft is still pretty decent. We’ll be in a position to put on a far better show than we have in the last couple years.”

The pole sitter has won this race the last three years, which has meant an increased emphasis on qualifying. But the likelihood of more passing should translate to more cars having a chance to win.

“Everywhere else (this season), it’s been better. It’s just easier to follow,” said Power, who won from the pole a year ago after setting a track qualifying record in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

“It will be absolutely better racing than last year.”

Teams will have two 45-minute practice sessions Friday before three rounds of knockout qualifications begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s race is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (ABC and Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network).

Pagenaud won this inaugural race in 2014 for Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports and then again for Team Penske in 2016. The latter triumph was one of five that season as the Frenchman celebrated his first Verizon IndyCar Series championship.

“The cars are very different to drive,” said Pagenaud, driving the bright yellow No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet this weekend. “In general, a lot of people haven’t found out yet what they need from their car to make it work. We’re (about) five races in, so people are starting to figure it out now. It’s going to get tighter and tighter.”

Pagenaud and Power, the 2014 series champion from Australia, said they consider the IMS road course one of their favorites for this type of circuit because its technical demands are similar to their European-style racing roots.

“You feel comfortable because of the nature of the corners, and it’s easier for you to repeat, be consistent with it,” Pagenaud said.

Pagenaud suggested one of the more interesting areas of the track to watch is the main straightaway, where the cars are moving the quickest but must also brake sharply heading into the first turn. Much of the passing in previous races has been in this spot.

Bourdais has made unlucky early exits with mechanical failures the past two years. He’s once again a strong championship contender, entering this event third in the points with a season-opening win in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg — but has completed just 23 laps in his past two INDYCAR Grand Prix starts.

“We’ll try to up that a little bit,” the driver of the No. 18 Team SealMaster Honda said with a wry smile.

His 37 career wins rank sixth on the all-time Indy car list. Power is ninth with 32 victories. Although Pagenaud didn’t get his first win until 2013, he already has 11 victories.

“It will be quite an interesting race,” Bourdais said. “It’s always a fun weekend and a great way to start the month.”

Teams are admittedly focused on May’s grandest stage, the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 27, but the INDYCAR Grand Prix has its valued place.

“It just shows the true nature of the Verizon IndyCar Series,” Pagenaud said. “We race road course, street course, oval, superspeedway and short ovals, and here, we’re demonstrating what the series is all about.

“With the big wings to start the month and using the road course (going clockwise), and then we’ll go the other way with the speedway wings (on the 2.5-mile oval) next week. To me, it’s exciting because the fans can really see what INDYCAR is all about in one month.”

Practice – with sessions starting at 9:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – and Verizon P1 Award qualifying (4:30 p.m.) in the condensed weekend schedule both take place on Friday. All the sessions stream live on RaceControl.IndyCar.com, youtube.com/indycar and the INDYCAR Mobile app.

A 30-minute final warmup practice starts at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. The green flag for the race is expected to wave at 3:43 p.m.