NickFalzone
1st July 2009, 06:04
http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=14463
The IndyCar Series will provide aerodynamic options to teams for 1.5-mile oval racetracks with a goal of improving performance, specifically overtaking.
Tools include tire ramps and sidepod extensions, and brake backing plates for Kentucky Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Utilized with other track-specific aero packages, the changes would add about 300 pounds of downforce to the cars and potentially create more overtaking opportunities.
The options will be available for the Meijer Indy 300 presented by Red Baron and Edy's on Aug. 1 at Kentucky Speedway. The IndyCar Series competes on three consecutive road/street courses in July.
In addition to the optional tire ramps and sidepod extensions and the brake backing plates, the 0.125-inch front wing wicker was removed from the aero package for the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in September.
"The good news is it shouldn't introduce costs back into what we're doing because these are all things teams have had and know what their affect is," Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations divisions of the sanctioning Indy Racing League, said when addressing issues of overtaking on the speedways .
The Dallara chassis has been used since 2003, and Honda and Firestone are long-time exclusive suppliers of engines and tires to the series. The only alterations for 2009 were moving to a standard 122-inch wheelbase for ovals and a relocation of the exhaust outlet.
"We have always prided ourselves on doing our best to create the most entertaining and compelling on-track product in motorsports, and I think in the last several years - especially with this version of race car - we've been very successful in achieving that," Barnhart said.
The IndyCar Series is coming off the short-oval portion of the season - Milwaukee, Iowa, Richmond - and for a record sixth week in a row the drivers 1-2 in the championship standings are separated by less than five points (Dario Franchitti plus 1 over Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon). The top five is separated by 60 points.
The IndyCar Series will provide aerodynamic options to teams for 1.5-mile oval racetracks with a goal of improving performance, specifically overtaking.
Tools include tire ramps and sidepod extensions, and brake backing plates for Kentucky Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Utilized with other track-specific aero packages, the changes would add about 300 pounds of downforce to the cars and potentially create more overtaking opportunities.
The options will be available for the Meijer Indy 300 presented by Red Baron and Edy's on Aug. 1 at Kentucky Speedway. The IndyCar Series competes on three consecutive road/street courses in July.
In addition to the optional tire ramps and sidepod extensions and the brake backing plates, the 0.125-inch front wing wicker was removed from the aero package for the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in September.
"The good news is it shouldn't introduce costs back into what we're doing because these are all things teams have had and know what their affect is," Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations divisions of the sanctioning Indy Racing League, said when addressing issues of overtaking on the speedways .
The Dallara chassis has been used since 2003, and Honda and Firestone are long-time exclusive suppliers of engines and tires to the series. The only alterations for 2009 were moving to a standard 122-inch wheelbase for ovals and a relocation of the exhaust outlet.
"We have always prided ourselves on doing our best to create the most entertaining and compelling on-track product in motorsports, and I think in the last several years - especially with this version of race car - we've been very successful in achieving that," Barnhart said.
The IndyCar Series is coming off the short-oval portion of the season - Milwaukee, Iowa, Richmond - and for a record sixth week in a row the drivers 1-2 in the championship standings are separated by less than five points (Dario Franchitti plus 1 over Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon). The top five is separated by 60 points.