Series schedule Oval/Speedway Road course/street circuit Schedule details The Detroit Indy Grand Prix was cancelled for the 2009 season. Confirmed entries All entrants competed in Dallara IR5 chassis, powered by Honda HI9R V8 engines, and utilize Firestone Firehawk tires. Series news 2009 started a 10-year TV deal with the Versus TV network. Versus agreed to broadcast at least twelve IndyCar Series events a year in HD, as well as pre-race coverage, a one-hour preview show the day before each race including qualifying highlights, qualifications for the Indianapolis 500, a Firestone Indy Lights weekly telecast, replays of all series races a week after original broadcast, and at least ten hours of ancillary programming. Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl, and Jon Beekhuis made up the broadcast team along with Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd, and Lindy Thackston in the pits. Emmy Award-winning auto-racing producer Terry Lingner produced the coverage. Versus will air commercials using IndyCar Non-Stop. In 2011 Versus was renamed NBC Sports Network. Firestone supplied two sets of tire compounds beginning in 2009 on road and street courses for the IR5 chassis. Alternate tires would be marked with red sidewalls and would be made of a softer compound. They contain more grip and allow for faster times, but do not last as long as the regular tires. Each team received six sets of the regular tires ("the blacks") and three sets of the new alternate tires ("the reds") for the race weekend. The cars were required to run at least two green flag laps with the alternate tires during a race. Oval races used the primary tire only. A new private testing policy was put into place for team for 2009, provided they participate in the TEAM revenue-sharing program. Teams were permitted: or six days of testing, whichever comes first, along with eight sets of tires. Two-car teams may conduct of testing with 26 sets of tires. Additional team cars gained and four sets of tires per car. No testing at any track within seven days of a race. Teams could earn additional test days by providing opportunities to Firestone Indy Lights drivers. Bonus practice time for rookies and teams outside the Top 10 in points were added starting at Long Beach. The bonus session lasted from 30 to 45 minutes at each venue before the first practice sessions of the day for all cars. The policy was intended to promote competition, allowing