NASCAR to test oval layout in Indianapolis, increases speculation for 2024

NASCAR will hold a test on the oval layout at Indianapolis Motor Speedway starting on August 14, which is increasing speculation for 2024.

NASCAR is heading to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend but it won’t be to compete on the oval layout. Most notably, the NASCAR Cup Series is set to take on the road course layout for the third straight season after moving away from the Brickyard 400 following the event in 2020.

The first two Cup Series races on the Indianapolis Road Course have ended with mass chaos due to cautions and the layout of Turn 1. It has drastically affected the finishing order and many drivers have said they would prefer the oval over the road course. Well, the next NASCAR test seems to indicate that a move to the oval layout is coming sooner rather than later.

According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, NASCAR will test on the oval in Indianapolis on the Monday and Tuesday following the Cup Series event. Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe will be the drivers in the test session. There is no announcement for the 2024 season yet.

It would be fantastic for NASCAR to bring back the Brickyard 400. There is no point in going to a historic track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway to compete on the road course layout. Denny Hamlin has previously said NASCAR would return to the oval and this test is another step in the right direction.