LEXINGTON, Ohio — The 2018 Indy car, which debuted Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is a critical step in enhancing the safety of the Verizon IndyCar Series. There’s little debate about that, IndyCar president Mark Miles told IndyStar recently. But while the most notable safety feature of the new car — the vastly improved side-impact protection — is significant, Miles had hoped Tuesday’s test at IMS also would have served as the world’s introduction to another, long-talked about safety feature: IndyCar’s windscreen prototype.

To Miles’ disappointment, Tuesday came and went without a windscreen or “aero screen” for the racing world to behold. IndyCar's prototype is not ready to be tested, Miles said, and he is unsure when it will be.

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What he does know is that while there are many obstacles to overcome, he and IndyCar have the support of the majority of the paddock. That’s important, because Formula One is dealing with some blowback over its introduction of the “halo,” which will be used by the European-based open-wheel series starting in 2018. The cockpit safety device is designed to protect drivers from impact with other cars, flying debris and contact with other trackside elements.

However, F1's ranks appear to be split on the halo. Some drivers have deemed the device ugly and unseemly, saying it does not belong on an F1 car, while others have applauded the sport’s attempt to mitigate danger.

Though he’s not sure an IndyCar windscreen would evoke unanimous praise, Miles anticipates that the majority of drivers would feel the same way as Simon Pagenaud, who is in favor of its implementation as soon as possible.

“I think it's fantastic that we're going that way for protection,” the defending series champion said recently. “Safety has evolved so much these days that that remains the critical area for fatal injury. I think IndyCar is showing that they really want to go in that direction. I think it should be embraced, really, from the drivers, from everybody. The new car obviously has got this design.”

IndyCar president of competition Jay Frye confirmed Pagenaud’s statement before Tuesday’s test, saying that the 2018 car has been designed to incorporate the application of an aero screen. Frye said he and his team anticipate testing a prototype before the end of the year.

“But when we get it on, we want to make sure we've got it right,” Frye said. “We want to make sure it's ready to go, and again, at that point, then we'll decide is it an '18, '19, or are we going to use it in the future. If we're going to use it in the future, we want to make sure we're ready, and when the product is actually done and designed, developed, we'll actually be ready to put on a car.”

That day, while on the horizon, is not imminent.

Graham Rahal, who is among the biggest proponents of the 2018 IndyCar, said that he has faith Frye and his team will come up with a viable solution, but also warns that it will take time, as there are dozens of variables to manage.

Distortion is among the biggest concerns drivers have, Rahal said. Any windscreen, which he favors above F1’s halo, cannot impair a driver's vision in any way.

“Jay has been working on this since Justin's (Wilson) accident," Rahal said of Wilson's fatal crash at Pocono Raceway in 2015. "I know he's been pretty quiet about that. But the key is clarity, distortion, size. You know, there's a lot of elements that go into this. I think that's what people forget. I think we saw that with (F1 driver Sebastian) Vettel recently, who tried it. The shape of the windscreen, you could tell by looking at it that the distortion would be bad. ... When you're looking out of the side of a windscreen, if it's distorted, it can be a problem. When you go on an oval, that can be problem.

Distortion is only the beginning. Any windscreen would have to be strong enough to withstand impacts of major collisions. Aerodynamics, heat and the safety team’s ability to work around the screen to extricate a driver from a wrecked car are other important factors to consider.

It’s very complicated, but Miles is optimistic IndyCar is heading down the right path. Pagenaud added that he expects drivers to have problems with windscreens initially, but that time and innovation eventually will quell concerns.

“When I drove sports cars in Le Mans, the first time I drove a closed car with the windshield, the vision was a little distorted, but you get used to it after a while,” Pagenaud said. “You adjust, and after six months, you don't realize it's there anymore. It's going to have to be part of it, and we're all going to have to adjust to it.

“We're going to put (a prototype) on track, drive it, and evolve from it, from the baseline, and then improve it,” Pagenaud said. “I think that's the key. ... Hopefully, we'll get it tested soon."

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Instagram: @jimayello.