The Verizon IndyCar Series will make a return to Gateway Motorsports Park in late August next year, but there were cars on track today, as part of a Firestone Tire Test. The race is scheduled for August 26, which is a Saturday. It will be the first IndyCar race at the venue since 2003, which featured an All-Brazilian podium.

The seven drivers that took part in today’s test were Josef Newgarden (Penske), Tony Kanaan (Ganassi), Graham Rahal (RLL), James Hinchcliffe (SPM), Sebastien Bourdais (Coyne), Ed Carpenter (ECR), and Marco Andretti (Andretti).

There have been seven IndyCar races at Gateway, from 1997-2000 (CART) and 2001-2003. The winners of those races are some of the biggest names in the sport; Paul Tracy, Alex Zanardi, Michael Andretti, Juan Montoya, Al Unser Jr., Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves. Tickets for next year’s race went on sale earlier this week.

Both Newgarden and Bourdais spent the day with their new teams. Josef was driving Castroneves’ No. 3 car, and Sebastien was in the No. 19 Honda machine. Carpenter had both of his cars at the track. The No. 21 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet is one of the most coveted seats in silly season that has yet to be filled.

The 1.25-mile egg-shaped oval in Madison, Illinois (across the Mississippi River) will host the 15th Round of the 2017 IndyCar championship. You can purchase tickets here. Below are some photos from today’s test, courtesy of IndyCar.