The Verizon IndyCar Series may be on a four-week hiatus from races, but the competition never stops.

Beginning today at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, Indy cars are slated to test five times in the next 10 days – with the following four days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – in a late-March rush of series open and engine manufacturer testing. Two days on the IMS oval – an open test on Tuesday, March 27 and an Indy 500 rookie orientation and veteran refresher day on Wednesday, March 28 – will stream live on IndyCar.com and INDYCAR’s YouTube channel.

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK OPEN TEST: Entry list

The veteran refresher on March 28, as well as an engine manufacturer test the following day, will feature the highly anticipated return to Indy cars for Danica Patrick. The first female driver to lead the Indianapolis 500 has announced that she will conclude her driving career at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 27. Patrick, the only woman to win a major open-wheel race, will turn laps in an Indy car for the first time since 2011 when she tests for Ed Carpenter Racing on the IMS 2.5-mile oval in preparation for driving the No. 13 GoDaddy Chevrolet in May.

The live stream on March 27-28 will cover all aspects of the testing that runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET both days. A host of familiar faces will provide commentary and interviews during the streaming, including Kevin Lee, an NBCSN reporter on Verizon IndyCar Series telecasts, and Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network reporters Jake Query and Dave Furst. Five cameras will be in use, including one mobile camera in pit lane.

Today’s open test at Barber Motorsports Park is in advance of next month’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. A total of 24 drivers are expected to turn laps on the picturesque 2.3-mile permanent road course outside Birmingham.

Among them is Helio Castroneves, who will drive the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet in preparation for his return to Verizon IndyCar Series competition in May for the INDYCAR Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500. The three-time Indy 500 winner moved full time this season to Team Penske’s program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins Friday with an engine manufacturer test day on the road course, running from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The March 29 manufacturer test on the IMS oval also runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Fans may watch any of the IMS testing for free from the IMS Museum parking lot, the Turn 2 viewing mounds or the South Terrace grandstands.

The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix from ISM Raceway on Saturday, April 7. Live coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.