INDYCAR announced on Thursday, April 9 that they have mandated structural upgrades to strengthen the Honda and Chevrolet body kits in advance of the Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park. The modifications include the addition of components that will improve the strength of the body kits. Each manufacture redesigned their kits, and had them approved by INDYCAR.
The updates were announced by INDYCAR as a result of the amount of damage to bodywork components in the season opener at St. Petersburg. There were three full course debris cautions called on the street course, as well as a piece of debris flying into the stands and injuring a fan.
“We applaud both Honda and Chevrolet for their efforts to implement these changes,” Derrick Walker, INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations, said. “With a quick turnaround from St. Petersburg, our partners were very diligent in making these enhancements in time for this weekend’s event. We will continue this collaboration and expect additional improvements in the future.
“INDYCAR delivers a quality racing product and we will always be proactive to implement changes that benefit our fans. These upgrades are a good first step that will make immediate improvements to the race this weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park.”
While INDYCAR feels that this is the solution, drivers commented post-race at St. Petersburg that less car-to-car contact will be what it takes.
“You’re not supposed to hit anybody, man,” Tony Kanaan said. “It’s open-wheel. It’s not stockcar or touring car racing.
“I think you can probably rub. But, yeah, you probably have less contact than with the other car,” Will Power commented.
“I think it’s going to make it more exciting in a way that people know they got to give each other a little more room, the cars are more fragile,” Montoya added. “They’re used to working with cars that you bounce off people, nothing happens. Now you bounce, you look at Will, he lost part of his front wing just by touching me.”
