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AP Photo/Ben Margot
A slightly altered road course at Infineon Raceway will greet the IndyCar contingent in 2008.
Changes In Store For 2008
The Indy Racing League is set to unveil a series of small rules changes intended to create closer competition and strategic intrigue in the 2008 IndyCar Series. All 11 oval tracks will now use the qualification format made famous by the Indianapolis 500, and grid positions will be determined by a driver's average speed over four laps. And although nothing can approach the pressure and challenge that are a hallmark of a 10-mile run for the pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the four-lap format should spice up qualifying and possibly shake up the order at a few of the IRL's more driver-oriented ovals like Richmond International Raceway and Twin Ring Motegi. The IndyCar Series' unique road-racing qualifying format, in which single-lap runs establish the Firestone Fast Six for 10 minutes of free track time, will carry over at the series' five road and street courses. During the offseason, series officials staged test days at Iowa Speedway and Infineon Raceway to assess methods of making races at those tracks more entertaining. The results: a revised aerodynamic package for the 0.875-mile Iowa oval, and a slightly altered track layout for Infineon's variable road course. "What I'd like to see is if by staying straight we create a harder braking area and thus a better passing zone going into Turn 7," said IndyCar Series chief steward Brian Barnhart. The Dallara chassis introduced in 2003 and the ethanol-powered 3.5-liter Honda engine continue without significant changes. But control of the fuel mixture will be returned to drivers and teams, and drivers will benefit from a Formula 1-inspired paddle shift mechanism "We've been working on a new silencer as well, to further reduce engine noise, but that project is not yet ready for racing," said Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development. "Further improvement in engine life is also targeted." The IndyCar Series is also close to announcing two major marketing initiatives expected to involve Coca-Cola and Mac Tools. Teams are allowed two private test days prior to Feb. 20, with official test sessions set for Homestead-Miami Speedway (Feb. 27-28) and Sebring International Raceway (March 2-5). The IndyCar Series season kicks off under the lights at Homestead on March 29.John Oreovicz covers open-wheel racing for National Speed Sport News and ESPN.com.
Drivers Show Up In Force

Kanaan
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