IndyCar takes steps to improve competition on track

After weeks of lackluster races during the recent stint of ovals, followed by commentary from increasingly frustrated and vocal drivers, media and fans, the IndyCar Series has decided to take action sooner rather than later, announcing a plan to provide teams with some aerodynamic options for 1.5-mile oval racetracks with hopes of of improving the performance of the cars, and thus improving the racing, specifically in the area of overtaking.

Some of the tools being provided include tire ramps, sidepod extensions, and brake backing plates for the remaining ovals on this years schedule Kentucky Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, as well as Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway in 2010. Used in combination with other track-specific aero packages, the changes would add about 300 pounds of downforce to the cars to potentially create more overtaking opportunities.

"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. "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."

The IndyCar Series is coming off the short-oval portion of the season - Milwaukee, Iowa, Richmond, and now heads into the road/street course section, where the aero package isn't as much of factor. These changes will come into play at the Meijer Indy 300 presented by Red Baron and Edy's on Aug. 1 at Kentucky Speedway.

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