2008 IndyCar Rules and Equipment Changes
For the 2008 IndyCar season several rule changes have been introduced. The one to raise the most comment is the minimum weight required for IRL cars. (and the change gives Robby Gordon one less reason to Whine! - ed)
The minimum weight has yet to be disclosed but the rule is intended to minimize the difference between the heaviest and lightest drivers, where the gap can be as much as 30 to 45kg.
The drivers will be broken into three groups, with the heaviest getting a weight reduction and the lightest getting a maximum of 16kg ballast.
The introduction of paddle shifters could have the biggest influence, especially on road courses. A lot of the drivers are uncomfortable with making a lot of gear changes using the existing sequential boxes.
On ovals they’ll only change gears a couple of times. In the past the likes of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti dominated road courses, having grown up on H-pattern gear shifts. Now drivers like AJ Foyt, traditionally back-markers on road courses, have closed right up to the rest of the field in pre-season practice.
All the oval circuit will now use the same qualifying format as the Indianapolis 500 where grid positions are determined by the average speed over four laps.
Road-race qualifying stays the same in which the six fastest cars over a flying lap get 10 minutes extra track time. Another technical change is the addition of variable-assist steering racks to reduce some of the physical exertions required on road and street courses.
The steering rack will help at tracks like Sonoma where there are many elevation changes and the steering reportedly locks up in places.
And finally, the control of the fuel mixture will be returned to the teams.
On fuel related note; IndyCar’s use of bio-fuel places another roadblock before the former Champ Car teams progress to the top of the field. They all have to learn the differences in tuning the engine using the new fuel.
