A number of drivers are coming into the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg unsure of how the brand new alternate tire technique will have an effect on the racing.
Earlier this week, an up to date rule was launched into the IndyCar Collection that included the change in tire utilization necessities for all road programs. Drivers should now use one set of major tires (arduous) and two units of alternate tires (tender) now required in the course of the race. Beforehand, drivers simply wanted to make use of one set of every compound. The rule round two green-flag laps on every set stays unchanged.
Christian Lundgaard, driver of Arrow McLaren’s No. 7 Chevrolet, expressed that all of it comes all the way down to the sturdiness of the tire constructed by Firestone.
“I believe all of it will depend on the tire,” Lundgaard stated. “Is the tire ok? Is it higher than final yr? I believe that is what all of us hope. Is it going to be a three-stop in all probability? Is it going to be a three-stop flat-out? Possibly not, relying on how the tire hangs on.
“I believe you are going to see completely different race methods at completely different racetracks. The shorter tracks like Detroit and D.C. will doubtlessly prove utterly completely different than right here.”
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
One of many distinctive components that’s added to the combo is Firestone’s new ENLITEN Know-how instituted into the Firehawk race tires. Gone is the guayule-derived pure rubber – used since 2023 – and changed with the brand new tire expertise that introduces renewable soybean oil, together with recycled metal and recycled carbon black.
“I suppose it will depend on what the alternate (tire) truly finally ends up being,” stated Alexander Rossi, driver of the No. 20 ECR Chevrolet.
“It is presupposed to be extra sturdy than final yr. How rather more sturdy will dictate the place you are going with that query? As a result of earlier than, to illustrate you thought it lasted 5 to eight laps. Did they double that? Did they enhance it by 20%? I do not actually know.
“It might be pretty simple, or it might be very difficult for everybody. I simply assume we’ve to see what the tire truly is.”
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson, who’s getting into his third yr in North America’s premier open-wheel championship, concedes there’s a wait-and-see method.
“I actually do not know but,” Simpson stated. “Yearly it is a new tire, so we’ll see how the brand new tire is that this yr. If the last word is powerful sufficient that you may run 30 laps straight and not using a drawback, then that’ll be nice, however finally I believe any time you form of mandate tire decisions like that, it form of hinders technique choices.
“However it might be good for racing, you understand. It may create some chaotic moments, like final yr with the best way the tires fell off. You would find yourself with some very attention-grabbing conditions the place somebody’s form of making an attempt to make the tires work and simply pulling them backwards.
“We’ll actually see after Observe 1 what the tire goes to be like, however we do not actually know but.”
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Group
