The changes include an additional gate at 7 and the Finish Gate has been moved to the VTM
It's a tough and challenging track – with our race analyst describing it as a "dignified" finish to the season
All pilots – Challenger and Master Class – will also perform a static start from the runway on the infield at the IMS
This adds an extra consideration and also impacts the start speed the pilots' can achieve – so skill required from the ground up!
We've had the FP3 session for the Challenger Class pilots and here's how they looked...
OFFICIAL CHALLENGER CLASS FP3 RESULTS:
MURPHY
BERGER
CZEPIELA
COLEMAN
RYFA
ASTLES
We've just kicked off Master Class FP3 and here's the startlist:
GOULIAN
PODLUNSEK
DOLDERER
BOLTON
LE VOT
IVANOFF
KOPFSTEIN
BRAGEOT
CHAMBLISS
MCLEOD
VELARDE
SONKA
HALL
MUROYA
This is how it's looking out there and Goulian is the first pilot to refine his lines ahead of this afternoon's Qualifying... his best time is 1:04.721 clean... which is faster than his previous FP 1 & 2 times, so he's done some homework
Next up, Peter Podlunsek who is retiring after Indianapolis...
The Slovenian pilot will bow out tomorrow after two seasons in the Master Class, following his two years in the Challenger Class
It's a 1:08.883 for Podlunsek, recorded in his first run, followed by a penalty-ridden second and third
Dolderer flies next, and after topping the timesheet in FP1, he's looking good so far in Indy
While he can't reclaim his 2016 title, the German has little to lose at the final round, so will be giving this race everything to go out on a high
His best time in FP3 is a 1:05.542 and that includes a penalty at Gate 5 for an incorrect VTM – this is where we expect to see more penalties throughout the weekend as the judges are particularly focused on this gate
Chile's Cristian Bolton up now...
All three FP runs pick up penalties and Bolton posts a 1:09.844 with 1s added for insufficient smoke...
Le Vot of France is cleared into the track...
It's a 1:06.477 for the Frenchman, + 2.194s behind current leader Goulian
And it's our next French pilot, Nicolas Ivanoff now...
And that's phenomenal work from sport's most colourful competitor! Ivanoff knocks Goulian off the top spot with a 1:04.283, including 1s for getting on the wrong side of the judges at the second VTM
Petr Kopfstein in the track now and the Czech pilot who is rising through the ranks in his second season could well be a podium contender here in Indy...
4th in FP1 and 5th in FP2, Kopfstein is well settled in the middle of the pack
FP3 is consistently encouraging and Kopfstein stops the clock in 1:05.447
So it's Ivanoff who's sitting at the top for now, with Goulian and Kopfstein behind...
Mika Brageot is the next pilot to lay down a time and it's a great 1:05.603 for the last of our French teams in FP3
The first of our title contenders flies into the track – it's two-time World Champion Kirby Chambliss!
The American only flies one run and gets a Safety Climb Out so misses a second opportunity to refine his lines...
The changes include an additional gate at 7 and the Finish Gate has been moved to the VTM
