Tech inspection for Pikes Peak Hill Climb

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- On the first day of race week, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb held its technical inspection for this year's drivers.

After the race was delayed until the end of August, some of the drivers wondered if there would be a 2020 edition of the race to the clouds. It may be late, but it's happening.

"I think that would be the high point on the roller coaster of emotions," said racer Jordan Guitar. "I think we're all pretty excited to see this come to fruition here."

Unlike the NBA and NHL, there's no bubble for the drivers. They had to take their own precautions to avoid a COVID-19 infection.

"We have a lot of procedures in place," said racer Justin Lumbard. "To name a few, we basically can operate in pairs at most, we have to wear these masks all the time of course, we do daily temperature checks, daily wellness checks. We've got a lot of individual rooms. Everyone is kind of separated."

Pikes Peak isn't clearly visible with smoke from the wildfires creating a haze in the horizon. However, Lumbars says the smoke actually helps them.

"The sun can be really brutal at times, coming around some of the right handers up the hill. It gets really really bright. The smoke actually kind of dulls that a little bit. It brings it down, so maybe you're not quite so blinded."

The 98th running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb is set for Sunday, August 30th.