Start timings for the NTT IndyCar Series at Road America: The NTT IndyCar Series will return to Road America with two women in the field for the first time in over eight years.

The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the first IndyCar race with multiple female drivers since the 2013 season finale, with Tatiana Calderon (who is racing the road and street course races for A.J. Foyt Racing this season) and Simona de Silvestro in a Paretta Autosport car (which featured Pippa Mann and de Silvestro)

Calderon stated, "I'm overjoyed to see another female driver enter the grid, to see women in motorsport." I think it's fantastic for the series and the sport. It's yet another highly competitive driver joining an extremely competitive grid. Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing Simona this weekend and fighting against her in the next several rounds."

It's been a long path for de Silvestro, who ended 13th in points in her most recent full-time season in 2013, with a career-best second at Houston.

Since then, de Silvestro has competed in Formula E, de Silvestro, and the Australian Supercars championship.

With the exception of three starts in 2015 with Andretti Autosport, de Silvestro had been mainly absent from IndyCar until last year's Indy 500 with Paretta.

De Silvestro will compete at Road America for the first of three times this year, with Paretta Autosport also racing at Mid-Ohio and Nashville. Following a technical alliance with Squad Penske last year, Beth Paretta's team (predominantly comprised of women in influential positions) has forged a technical partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing.

De Silvestro, who raced full-time in IndyCar from 2011 to 2013, stated, "I guess the last seven years I've always sought to come back to IndyCar." "To be honest, getting a seat was a genuine struggle." I'm putting in a lot of effort because I think IndyCar is something special, and it's something I've always wanted to race in.

(Paretta) I believe getting this programme together, especially now that we're having more races, is a huge step forward, and maybe we can grow on it and make it full-time. I'm excited. She's a truly remarkable individual. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. I believe that all of the ladies involved are grateful to her for battling so hard for us.

Although female drivers in IndyCar have been on the decline recently, de Silvestro and Calderon are optimistic about the future.

At Road America (Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment), Simona de Silvestro will make her first NTT IndyCar Series start.

When you look at the junior series, I think you'll notice a lot more female drivers, which I think is fantastic, said de Silvestro. But, with the two of us in a top series, I believe it will motivate even more girls to take up driving and other activities. I believe it is critical that we be able to compete in IndyCar.

Calderon claimed she supported de Silvestro, Danica Patrick, and Bia Figueiredo as a child in Colombia.

It's a shame we didn't have (a woman) in the highest level of single-seaters for the past few years. Calderon, who is 29 years old, stated. I believe that young people need to see it to believe it when they say, "I want to be in IndyCar," because there are ladies who can compete against men in a highly competitive series.

I'm hoping that by working together, we can keep the momentum continuing and see more women starting in single-seaters, which is ultimately what we need. It's a circle, so perhaps more people will join us in the future, and we will be able to continue to represent women in the greatest possible way.

Before departing IndyCar nine years ago, de Silvestro remarked that she finished ahead of Josef Newgarden, who would go on to win two championships with Penske a few years later.

She stated, "In 2013, I was at the top where I should be." In IndyCar, I was competing at the front. There wasn't much of a chance to join a larger team. That is something I believe we should continue to fight for. I believe that if we can be truly competitive, and things have changed a lot in the last ten years, there will be more individuals prepared to take a chance. I believe it is still a work in progress.

That significant opportunity, I believe, is still required. Consider Formula One: it's been 45 years since a woman has been on the grid. There haven't been many in Formula 2. As drivers and at all levels, we still need additional opportunities. People desire more female drivers, which will provide us with more options. We should see them in the following years, hopefully. However, it is a lengthy procedure.

Corporate support is required.

Money makes a difference in racing, according to de Silvestro. If you have sponsors who are willing to aid teams and who also want to see you succeed, I believe you will be able to move things forward.

Finally, you must obtain the right shot and enlist the help of those who genuinely want to help you. As a female driver, I believe we do have opportunities, but I also believe that when we have a terrible season, we may be dumped very quickly.

The following are the specifics for the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America, as well as the IndyCar start timings (all times are in Eastern Time):

INDYCAR START TIMES FOR THE SONSIO GRAND PRIX AT ROAD AMERICA

Sunday, 12:30 p.m. ET through streaming. The announcer is Leigh Diffey, who is joined by commentators Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. The pit reporters are Marty Snider, Kevin Lee, and Dave Burns. To learn more, go to this page.

Peacock will also provide a live webcast of both practices and qualifying.

ENGINE START COMMAND: 12:48 p.m. ET

12:55 p.m. ET GREEN FLAG

Peacock postrace show: Following the race, Peacock will air an exclusive postrace show, including driver interviews, postrace analysis, and the podium presentation. After the race, go to Peacock's private feed to catch the extended postrace programme.

Practices and qualifying will also be streamed live on Peacock.

PRACTICE: Friday, 4:25 p.m. (Peacock Premium); Saturday, 10:45 a.m. (Peacock Premium); 5:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium); 5:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium); 5:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium); 5:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium); 5 (Peacock Premium)

Saturday, 1:45 p.m., QUALIFYING (Peacock Premium)

Race distance: On a 14-turn, 4.048-mile road track in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the race runs 55 laps (222.64 miles).

Tire allocation: During the race weekend, there will be seven primary tyres and four sets of alternate tyres. Teams using a rookie driver may use an additional pair of main tyres. For at least two laps in the race, teams must use one pair of primary tyres and one set of new (sticker) alternate tyres.

PUSH TO PASS: Total time of 200 seconds, maximum of 20 seconds for each activation. The push-to-pass option is not accessible at the start or during any restart until the race is in the final two or three minutes. The addition boosts the engine's performance by about 60 horsepower—Indy Lights: Total time of 150 seconds, with a maximum of 15 seconds each activation.

AT THE GREEN FLAG, it's anticipated to be 69 degrees with a 22% chance of rain, according to Wunderground.com.

Entry list: To see a list of the 27 drivers competing at Road America on Sunday, click here. Callum Ilott returns to Juncos-Hollinger Racing's No. 77 Dallara-Chevrolet after missing a race due to an injury.

INDY LIGHTS RACE: 9:40 a.m. Sunday, 20 laps/80.96 miles/55 minutes (Peacock Premium)

Indy lights entry list: For a list of the 14 drivers who competed, click here.

WEEKEND START TIMES FOR THE SONSIO GRAND PRIX AT ROAD AMERICA

(All times are in Eastern Standard Time.)

On June 10th June, USF2000 practise begins at 9 a.m.

Indy Pro 2000 practise begins at 9:45 a.m.

10 a.m.: The IndyCar garage opens its doors.

Radical Cup practice begins at 10:30 a.m.

USF2000 qualifying begins at 11:30 a.m.

Indy Pro 2000 qualifying begins at 12:15 p.m.

Radical Cup qualifying begins at 1:45 p.m.

USF2000 qualifying begins at 2:30 p.m.

Indy Lights practise at 3:30 p.m.

IndyCar practice begins at 4:25 p.m.

Race 1 of the Radical Cup takes place at 5:55 p.m.

June 11th 

8 a.m.: The IndyCar garage opens its doors.

Indy Pro 2000 qualifying begins at 9 a.m.

Indy Lights practise at 9:45 a.m.

IndyCar practise begins at 10:45 a.m.

12:00 p.m.: USF2000, Race 1