The NTT IndyCar Series has announced a change to the tire allocation rules for next week’s race at the Indianapolis road course.
Each entrant typically has to use one set of each compound tire during the race, with teams free to choose when they fit the different types of Firestone tires.
The rules update dictates that each entry will now be required to use two sets of the harder primary tire and two separate sets of the softer alternate tire over the course of the planned 85 laps.
As with the existing rules, each tire set must be fitted to the cars for two laps to be considered satisfactory.
One change is that there is no requirement for the tires to be new or used, whereas current rules state that one set of new alternate tires must be used per race.
“IndyCar is continually looking into ways to improve an already extraordinary on-track product,” said IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles.
“Firestone is a terrific partner, and their higher degradation alternate tire has given strategists plenty to think about on road and street circuits this year. We expect this update will challenge teams and drivers even more.”
The update is meant to encourage more aggressive driving by removing the incentive for drivers to save tires.
Recent races have typically seen three stops, however, meaning there may be little real-world change aside from all drivers running each compound option twice.
The rule change currently only affects the one upcoming race on the Indianapolis road course, but the series will evaluate the rule’s effectiveness and could apply it for road and street courses going forward.
The Sonsio Grand Prix takes place next weekend on Saturday, May 10.
