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Indy Cars change to "Double File" Restarts in 2011
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/01/Indycar_goes_to_double-f...
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One of the best things that NASCAR has done in the last year or two to improve the quality of racing has been going to double-file restarts.
Drivers don't all like it because there is an increased risk of beating and banging on the restart by drivers who see it as a chance to gain a lot of positions -- which, of course, is precisely why most fans like it.
Well, IndyCar has decided that double-file restarts might be just the thing for the open-wheel series as well. Starting with this year's Indianapolis 500, IndyCar drivers will line up for restarts in rows of two with the race leader taking the inside position.
IndyCar restarts will also start much closer to the start-finish line than previously.
The change starts with the Indy 500 because it only applies to oval tracks. Road courses, such as Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, aren't included.
IndyCar's competition director, Brian Barnhart, said that's because there is just not enough room to get the cars lined up on the long straight at Barber before reaching the start-finish line and because of the buildup of marbles from tires on the sides of the track as the race goes along.
"At venues such as Barber, you have a right-hander and left-hander coming up on the start/finish line," Barnhart said. "You don't have time to get two wide. It's easier to do that coming for the initial start because guys are willing to run off-line because the track is clean. They won't do that an hour into the race."
It's a shame that double-file restarts won't be used on road courses. When NASCAR first went to double-file restarts there were predictions that it wouldn't work well at Watkins Glen and Sonoma. But the racing at road courses -- including Nationwide racing at Montreal and Road America -- has been greatly enhanced lately and double-file restarts are part of the reason.
That doesn't mean it would necessarily work for IndyCar too -- beating and banging doesn't work with open wheels -- but it would be good to see the series try it at a road course or two to see if it might work.
That doesn't mean it would necessarily work for IndyCar too -- beating and banging doesn't work with open wheels -- but it would be good to see the series try it at a road course or two to see if it might work.
IndyCar is also changing its 107 percent rule. This is the rule that was more or less prompted by Milka Duno, who was often considerable slower than the rest of the field.
The 107 percent rule said that a driver's speed had to be within 107 percent of the leader during qualifying to make the race. That has now been reduced to 105 percent.
So, if the leader makes a lap at a road course in 60 seconds, everyone else has to be no slower than 63 seconds to qualify.
Other changes:
* The selection of pit stalls will be based on how drivers qualified for the previous race. So at Barber, which is the second race of the year, pit stalls will be allotted based on how drivers qualified at St. Petersburg, the first race of the year.
* Specs for engines will be reduced from 2.4 liters to 2.2.
* Drivers will only be allowed one set of tires for each of the three stages of qualifying. On road courses, drivers can still select either black or the softer red tires but can't change in the middle of a qualifying stage.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by TOG on
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Indy should do triple-file restarts....aftreall, that is their signature start
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Permalink Reply by Eric Dantz on
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yea now that would be interesting to see.
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