Chuck Burton / AP

J.J. Yeley is trying to qualify the car driven by suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield.

The IndyCar testing program allows the series to conduct annual, random and “targeted” tests — those that are administered because of a driver’s behavior or other suspicions. In one section, the policy lists 23 potential reasons for a targeted test, everything from a driver actually being observed using drugs (or alcohol on race day) to needle marks to slurred speech.

The IRL doesn’t list the drugs banned under its policy, saying it needs flexibility to keep up with new or unexpected substances; NASCAR also does not have a specific list for drivers, saying it reserves for the right to test for anything.

The IRL also won’t discuss its testing procedure, most notably the handling of “A” and “B” samples, a basic tenet of any doping program.

“We are confidential on how we do the sampling,” said John Griffin, vice president of public relations for the IRL. “We disclose a lot, but we can’t disclose that.”

The IRL’s drug-testing policy is mainly designed to weed out those who use recreational substances or abuse alcohol, Griffin acknowledged, saying that was the philosophy of Brian Barnhart, the president of competition and racing operations.

“Performance drugs are not a priority in Brian’s eyes as much as the others,” Griffin said. “To Brian, our drug-testing policy is mainly about safety. When you’re talking about recreational drugs or alcohol, whatever, that’s going to have much more of an effect on a driver’s ability to drive the car than performance drugs.”

But Servia, a longtime open-wheel racer from Spain, doesn’t understand why the IRL — and most racing series, for that matter — can’t focus on both categories of drugs.

“Of course, they should test for the other stuff because you don’t want guys driving around in an intoxicated way. But why not performance drugs?” he asked.

Servia said the normal heart rate during a two-hour IndyCar race is about 160 beats per minute. Those who took performance-enhancing drugs theoretically could do more training and reduce their heart rate, which might improve their chances of winning.

“If you can get your heart rate to 140 instead of 160, you’ll be more relaxed, you’ll think better, you’ll be more clear,” he said. “The better trained you are, the better you are in the car.”