| 11 January 2011
David Bowie would've felt at home attending today's "State of IndyCar" presentation in Indianapolis. Because there's going to be plenty of changes (ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?) coming to the sport in 2011.
A raft of announcements came down at the meeting and they will affect almost every facet of IndyCar from competition to marketing. Let's see if we can't run 'em all down as best we can. Spotted mistakes and omissions can be sent to @estradawriting on Twitter for prompt correction and appreciation.
Special thanks to everybody that tweeted from the conference -- fellow bloggers, PR people, media, race teams and drivers. It's their work that helped make this list.
COMPETITION
- The new 2012 engine and aero kit regulations have already been completed and are in possession of the teams. Unfortunately, the public won't know about those rules for some time. The aero kit information, in particular, will be released sometime in May and according to IndyCar 2012 Project Manager Tony Cotman, the series is expecting at least four kit suppliers. Announcements of who those suppliers are will come in October and all kit makers will have to give a two-year commitment.
- 2012 engine displacement has been reduced from 2.4 liters to 2.2 liters. In a press release from INDYCAR (the sanctioning body), president of competition Brian Barnhart stated that the change went "in line with our smaller, lighter and more efficient direction." Horsepower levels remain between 550-700 hp and the powerplants will run on E85 ethanol.
- The move to double-file restarts on ovals was officially confirmed, as was the change in pit selection that will have that order determined by qualifying from the previous race at a similar venue (i.e. road course for road course, oval for oval). However, pit selection for the Indianapolis 500 will stay unchanged.
- Also officially confirmed was news that the restart line on ovals will be moved closer to the start/finish stripe instead of being in between Turns 3 and 4.
- The pit commit line will be moved in order to prevent drivers from being caught out on pit road during a caution and not being able to make a stop.
- Each first session will be 75 minutes long, with drivers outside the top 10 and rookies getting the first 45 minutes of the session to themselves.
- Teams must now use only one set of tires for each road/street course qualifying session.
- Road and street courses will now have a 105 percent participation rule, down from last year's 107 percent. An example that was tweeted by IndyCar PR: If the leader runs a lap at 60 seconds on a road course, all cars must be clocking laps within 63 seconds.
LOGOS/AESTHETICS
- INDYCAR is the new name for the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and the Mazda Road to Indy ladder. A new red-and-black logo was officially unveiled during the meeting -- although the public got its first look at it yesterday thanks to a Tweet from none other than IMS Radio Network reporter Kevin Lee.
2011 SCHEDULE/TELEVISION/RADIO
- The Edmonton Indy is officially back on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule and will take place on July 24. A three-year deal has been reached between the city of Edmonton and promoter Octane Racing Group according to the Edmonton Sun.
- Open tests will take place on March 14-15 at Barber Motorsports Park and on May 9-10 at Kentucky Speedway.
- As expected, Versus will handle its customary 12 events as well as qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. ABC/ESPN will carry the season opener at St. Petersburg, followed by Indy, Milwaukee, New Hampshire and the TBA season finale (*coughcoughVEGAScough*).
- The Firestone Indy Lights will also return to television. All races at Versus tracks will be run tape-delayed on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. ET.
- This year's Indianapolis 500 will get a Spanish-language radio broadcast.
- The merger between NBC and Comcast (owners of Versus) is expected to be complete by the end of this month. However, IndyCar has been advised not to sign contracts with any potential broadcast talent until the merger is finalized.
MARKETING/FAN FUN
- IndyCar's marketing goals in 2011 are to increase ratings and attendance, as well as the presence of the Indianapolis 500 and its fan club, IndyCar Nation (in short, the obvious). The main targeted demographics will be at the grassroots level (karting), and they'll also be pushing the series at USAC and NASCAR fans.
- Garages will now be open to kids age 9 and older at all IndyCar tracks except for Texas Motor Speedway.
- All kids 12 and under can get in free for the Indianapolis 500 when an adult buys a general admission ticket.
- All 269 living Indianapolis 500 veterans have been invited to take part in an autograph session the day before the race.
- Sports Illustrated will produce a special Indy 500 Centennial issue.
- Cell phone technology may be integrated for the 2012 season to help fans follow the series better -- think stuff like in-car cameras, telemetry and the like.
- A pair of 2012 showcars from Dallara are expected to be on display at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the '500' festivities.
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