For any new players, start with the IndyCar Series with 20 laps at Normal, then try all the Masterclass. It doesn't matter if you pass them or not, just do the IndyCars Series again with 20 laps, but at Pro and do the Masterclass again to fully comprehend and master every one of them since they're very important in order to be a virtual professional driver.
In Options → Advanced Game Options, use these settings:
- Transmission: Manual. Just like a professional driver.
- Automatic AI Adjust: On. This will make the computer go slower if you're not in first position, but if you are in first position, the computer will go at 100% efficiency.
- Caution Autodrive: Off. So that you can be in control of your car during a yellow flag.
- Traction Control: Off. Just like a professional driver.
- Speed Assist: Off. Just like a professional driver.
Whatever or wherever you're racing, setting the engine to 7 will always be the best option even for doing a 200 lap race.
Just before entering the pit, don't go over 60 mph. In some races, you can see a pole with a 76 on it, which means that the maximum speed for entering the pit is 76, but even entering the pit at 70 will get you a black flag after you leave.
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For the first time, tick the "Go To Garage" option when in the pit and tune your car with the settings found in that course's walkthrough page in section "IndyCar Series". You'll find them to be quite good. You only need to do this once for each track, then the game will remember your settings for each of them.
Your weight jacker is very important; some track needs it low, others high. The ones that needs it low are Nashville, Michigan, Gateway and Chicagoland.
In qualifications, you can lower or raise your front wing by .50, so use this to your advantage.
Remember that if you had a bad qualification time, just leave the series and go back in to continue the series. You'll have another chance for the qualification.
Lap records[edit]
If you want to know the shortest time for a full distance, then here are some numbers that show that Phoenix is the one to choose, followed closely by Richmond with only two more minutes. If you want a track to finish 200 laps at Pro, California is suggested, as it's longer but much easier than the others.
The speed column shows the speed you should go on average for a full lap to get position #1 in the qualifications. An exception is for Indianapolis, which is the average of four laps that is taken into account.
| Course | Lap Record | Laps | Hours:Minutes:Seconds | Average mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 26.02 | 200 | 1:27:12 | 203.31 |
| Phoenix | 19.22 | 200 | 1:04:28 | 179.01 |
| California | 31.78 | 200 | 1:45:56 | 220.57 |
| Nazareth | 19.45 | 225 | 1:12:56 | 173.52 |
| Indianapolis | 37.90 | 200 | 2:06:20 | 230.60 |
| Texas | 23.48 | 200 | 1:18:16 | 224.63 |
| Pikes Peak | 19.32 | 225 | 1:12:27 | 177.56 |
| Richmond | 16.00 | 250 | 1:06:40 | 167.15 |
| Kansas | 24.54 | 200 | 1:22:08 | 219.76 |
| Nashville | 22.94 | 200 | 1:16:28 | 202.99 |
| Michigan | 31.66 | 200 | 1:45:32 | 222.22 |
| Kentucky | 23.54 | 200 | 1:18:28 | 221.28 |
| Gateway | 22.70 | 200 | 1:15:40 | 174.25 |
| Chicagoland | 24.30 | 200 | 1:21:00 | 222.38 |