Dallara IL-15

Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and three-time race winner James Hinchcliffe will add their insight and provide feedback in the development of the Dallara IL-15 chassis.

The veteran drivers will share testing duties Sept. 5-6 on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The test days are open to the public to watch from the Turn 2 viewing mounds.

The new Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires car made its on-track debut Aug. 4 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with 2013 Verizon IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Tristan Vautier behind the wheel. Conor Daly, who competed in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 and currently competes in GP2, and Vautier split driving Aug. 12 and 14 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Additional testing is scheduled the next weeks at the IMS road course and Milwaukee Mile.

Click it: New car designed for speed, safety

Hinchcliffe watched part of the Aug. 14 test.

"It is always fun being part of something new, and helping to develop this race car is a cool opportunity. I am a big believer in the Lights series; racing in Indy Lights made me the driver I am and prepared me to step up to the Verizon IndyCar Series," said Hinchcliffe, who was runner-up in the 2010 Indy Lights championship. "I think this new car is a big step in revitalizing the series. Being in on the ground level and helping to push the series in this direction is something I am looking forward to."

Project manager Tony Cotman said the test program, important before full-scale production, is progressing well.

"For us, it's how the car reacts to changes and try to validate a lot of the work that's been done by the manufacturers so when the teams get the car they're ready to run," he said. "There is a lot of calibrating to do on the engine side. We're in a good place right now."

The car is powered by a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder AER P63 engine and runs on Cooper tires. Without aid of the chassis set-up dialed in for the 2.5-mile oval, Daly topped the Indy Lights pole-winning lap speed for the 2014 Freedom 100.

"I'm excited to see the new car and the direction the series is taking," said Dixon, the 2000 Indy Lights champion. "It's a very important stepping stone on the road to the Verizon IndyCar Series. I look forward to driving the new car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and hope to help with the ongoing development."