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IndyCar Tech: New for '08
By Andrew Cutler February 7 2008
There are sure to be some long days (and nights?) ahead for the mechanics for the IndyCar teams. In recent days the IRL has announced that there will be three substantive changes to the chassis regulations for the upcomming season, which starts in less than two months.

Paddle Shifters

After testing a Formula One-style, behind the stearing wheel paddle shifter system at various venues throught the past season, the League has decided to make such a system manditory for all races in 2008, with the exception of the Indianapolis 500. This one exception is no doubt for the benefit of the several "one off" squads that race only at Indy who might find the costs of retro-fitting their cars to paddle shifters prohibitive.

Side Intrusion Panels

When the FIA announced their plans to mandate new side intrusion panels for the cockpits of all F1 & GP2 cars for '08, the IRL decided to not only follow suit, but to go them one better. Unlike the FIA panels, which only protect the drivers' torso, the new side impact pannels mandated by the IRL must reach forward to cover the pedal bulkhead, thus providing added protection to the drivers' legs and feet as well.  

Weight Requirements

Starting this year, the weight of the driver will count towards the minimum weight requirement of the car during the pre-race technical inspection process. Given the wide range in drivers' weight in the IRL ( 6'1" Ryan Hunter-Reay weights in at 175lbs while 5' 2" Danica Patrick tips the scales at an even 100lbs), many fans - and a few team bosses - have worried that lighter drivers have had an unfair advantage. While teams are still waiting for a follow-up notice from the League spelling out exactly how this new regulation is to be implimented, it seems highly probable that some sort of ballast system will be used to get all cars to an even pre-race weight.  

 

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