▁This ▁usually ▁applies ▁to ▁part - time ▁drivers ▁and ▁drivers ▁who ▁have ▁been ▁away ▁from ▁the ▁sport ▁for ▁an ▁extended ▁period ▁of ▁time . ▁Full - time ▁drivers ▁in ▁the ▁Ind y Car ▁Series ▁( that ▁are ▁not ▁ro ok ies ) ▁are ▁almost ▁univers ally ▁ex empt ▁from ▁taking ▁ref res her ▁tests . ▁Track ▁time ▁for ▁ref res her ▁tests ▁is ▁usually ▁offered ▁during ▁the ▁Ro ok ie ▁Ori entation ▁Program , ▁but ▁they ▁can ▁also ▁be ▁completed ▁on ▁regular ▁practice ▁days ▁unless ▁they ▁did ▁not ▁particip ate ▁at ▁Indian apolis , ▁Texas , ▁or ▁Po cono ▁the ▁previous ▁year . ▁ ▁Pract ice : ▁Since ▁the ▁first ▁Indian apolis ▁ 5 0 0 ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 1 , ▁the ▁track ▁has ▁been ▁opened ▁for ▁practice ▁early ▁in ▁the ▁month ▁for ▁compet itors . ▁Through ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁it ▁was ▁a ▁tradition ▁that ▁the ▁track ▁was ▁made ▁available ▁for ▁practice ▁beginning ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 . ▁In ▁some ▁years ▁the ▁track ▁opened ▁as ▁early ▁as ▁mid - A pril . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁schedule ▁was ▁cut ▁back ▁to ▁three ▁weeks ▁prior ▁to ▁race ▁day . ▁Since ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁track ▁typically ▁opens ▁for ▁practice ▁about ▁two ▁weeks ▁before ▁race ▁day . ▁In ▁the ▁early ▁years , ▁practice ▁began ▁each ▁day ▁as ▁early ▁as ▁ 9 : 0 0   a . m ., ▁but ▁in ▁modern ▁times , ▁the ▁track ▁typically ▁opens ▁at ▁ 1 1 ▁a