but will they Spice up the Show?
Yeah, this is old news, especially if you’ve
been following IndyCar since the March 2nd St Pete kickoff. But once again,
your Humble, but Haggard Head Scribe Tomaso simply cannot adequately Back-time’
everything to scribble about here upon No Fenders. Nor keep up with thoust
Wurld de Motorsporten, Ja Volt!
Hey, Y’all try
managing keeping track ‘O multiple racing series single handily on your ancient
Selectric typewriter. Not to mention IndyCar tweaking it’s tyre allocation rules
following St Pete for the Thermal Club’s cheese grader event! Due to the
track’s super abrasive surface.
As here’s the major rule and regulation changes
for this season.
Long Beach is the first of six races having
their race distances altered. As this weekend’s event at The Beach adds five
laps for a new total of 90-laps. With Mid-Ohio adding ten laps for a total of
also 90-laps. While both of Iowa’s races add 25-laps for a total of 275. Toronto
increases five laps for 90 total. And Nashville adds 19 for a total of
226-laps, in an effort to increase full “rich” race running. Taking away Scott
Dixon’s fuel saving strategy He employed to win at Long Beach last year.
Firestone has changed it’s tyre allocation for Twisties’
race weekends, now seeing five sets of “Hard” primary and “Soft” alternates for
road course and street circuits. With the exception of the previously mentioned
Thermal club event, along with the Indianapolis road course event. Both reverting
to last year’s allocation of six primary and four alternates.
Drivers will be allowed to run one set of
alternates during Friday’s first practice, along with continuing the addition
of one extra set of primary tyres for rookies. While Firestone was asked to
provide a wider performance separation gap between the primary and alternate
rubber compounds.
The 45mins “All Skate” session followed by the
field split into two groups for 10min apiece sessions will continue this year
at all road course and street circuit events.
A new, spec fuel meter has been mandated for this year’s competition, at the behest of engine manufacturers. As the mandatory fuel flow meter is produced by Sentronics, and is Slowsonic fuel flow meters are used in Formula 1, IMSA and World Endurance Championship competition.
In addition to the electronic LED race corner
panels and safety workers local waving yellow flag. The in-cockpit yellow caution
flag warning light will now be activated for these local caution flags to
immediately warn drivers of an on-track yellow flag. Hoping to eliminate nasty (and
costly) pile-ups like last year’s multi-car incident at Toronto’s Turn-1,
caused by Pato O’Ward.
In the advent of a crash of 65G’s or higher,
drivers custom molded seats and seat belts will be confiscated by IndyCar. As
seat belts can stretch in such accidents, which the series already confiscated
and destroyed these belts previously. While the driver seat confiscation adds a higher
safety measure. The foam cockpit head-rest surround will also be inspected in
such accidents, and then either deemed returnable or needing replacement.
Meanwhile, the Drivers Eye miniature helmet
camera system will now only be utilized at four races this season. Possibly
being tested at Long Beach during practice? In preparation for four drivers
carrying the system in future races, i.e.; Barbers or Indy’s road course prior
to the Indianapolis 500.
Yet with All of the on-screen graphics problems and Thermal Clubs Brownout, perhaps FOX will further delay this new wrinkle to its IndyCar TV coverage?
