Tweaking INDYCAR.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. The INDYCAR/Grand-Am race weekend came off successfully, thanks primarily to the efforts of Roger Penske and GM's North American leader, Mark Reuss. Needless to say, without their interest and support and their tireless efforts - and money - to make sure this event continues on, it simply wouldn't happen. And in a city that's desperate for any kind of glimpse of a new day ahead it's simply priceless and there aren't enough thanks and kudos that could be conveyed to these two men.

That said, what about the "dual" race format? On paper it seemed really good. The INDYCAR teams are here for the weekend so why not stage two races? Though it provided for some moments of great racing and some outstanding performances, particularly by Mike Conway (see more coverage in "The Line" - WG), I think the "dual" format, especially on a bull ring like the Belle Isle circuit, leaves a lot to be desired. Too much vehicle carnage and too many cautions reduce the race flow to fleeting moments of green and it's far less than ideal.

If it were up to me there wouldn't be two races for INDYCAR on Belle Isle next year. The idea of giving the race fans a value-added show for the buck is noble, but the reality delivers far less. They need to rethink it.

In other news from the weekend, Derrick Walker, president of competition and operations for INDYCAR outlined its long-term IZOD IndyCar Series competition strategy on Sunday morning. The timeline begins immediately and optimistically runs through the 2021 season.

The most pressing needs that are being addressed include "INDYCAR and Dallara looking to reduce the surface area of the underbody of the current chassis to reduce the potential for lift in preparation for the addition of various aerodynamic configurations in 2015." This project is underway and will conclude this fall. Aero configuration kits will be introduced and utilized for all races on the 2015 schedule and include specifications for superspeedway and road/street/short oval configurations.

Interestingly, areas open for development by INDYCAR-approved aero configuration kit manufacturers could include sidepods, engine cover, and front and rear wing end plates. Mainplane inclusion in aero configuration kits is dependent on underwing development and will be determined at a later date. INDYCAR expects to announce manufacturer participation in July.

"This is the first step in making the incremental changes to our cars toward further enhancing speed, innovation and safety," said Walker. "As we continue to look at all methods of advancing safety and competition, our initial task is to prepare our current chassis for the further increases of speed we hope to see with the addition of new aero configurations in 2015."

That's all well and good and optimistically buttoned-up, as I expected from Derrick Walker, but I've said it many times before and I'll say it again, until INDYCAR has three engine manufacturers locked and loaded for a five-year commitment, at least, then there will always be a danger for INDYCAR devolving into a one-make racing series, which is a giant, steaming bowl of Not Good any way you look at it.

Honda is going to F1 in 2015 with McLaren, and even though they haven't announced anything about that move other than the fact that they're doing it, where does it leave their INDYCAR involvment? And what plans does INDYCAR have in place to lure other manufacturers in?

Tweaking aero kits is great, but the engine situation is the billion-dollar question that will dictate INDYCAR's future for the next eight years.

As long as INDYCAR is contemplating a slate of priorities, the list should begin with that.

(Photo by Chris Ownes/INDYCAR)
Derrick Walker outlines INDYCAR's technical plans for the future on Sunday.


Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

 
(Photo by Dave Friedman courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives and Wieck Media)
Le Mans, France, June 11, 1967. Bruce McLaren leaves the pits in the Shelby American-entered No. 2 Ford Mk IV that he shared with Mark Donohue at the world's most prestigious endurance road race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Though they sat on the pole, the McLaren/Donohue duo finished in fourth place behind two factory-entered Ferraris, and a staggering 29 laps behind the overall winners, Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt, who drove their Shelby American-entered No. 1 Ford Mk IV to one of the most momentous wins in American racing history.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD