INDYCAR: Series makes dome skid concession

Dome skids are staying, but there will be no strakes.

One week after an April 6 test of the setup at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar released a statement saying manufacturers would be allowed a concession, but that would not include diffuser strakes.

"Following extensive data evaluation following the Verizon IndyCar Series aero kit test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 6, INDYCAR is permitting manufacturers to lower the optional underwing sidewalls by 9 millimeters (0.354 of an inch) for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil," IndyCar's statement says. "INDYCAR maintains its position spelled out in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series Rule Book mandating the use of domed skid plates and prohibiting the use of underwing strakes on all cars in this year's Indianapolis 500."

Fifteen cars tested the dome skids at a private Manufacturers' test at IMS and teams were able to add some of the optional bolt-on underwing pieces, with diffuser strakes helping to recover approximately 75 percent of the downforce taken by the extra ride height needed for the dome skids.

The dome skids have never been used on a Dallara DW12 in a spin or crash. While they've seen track tests and computer simulations, they've never been tested when it's most important: on a DW12 turned sideways or backward at speed. 

Several drivers, including James Hinchcliffe and Marco Andretti, slammed the dome skids, calling the increase in ride height unsafe and questioning what they would do to the quality of racing at the 100th Indianapolis 500.

"We put the dome skid [on the car] makes it safer in spin, yes, but everyone ignores the fact that to have to raise the ride heights 10 flats, which makes the car undrivable, therefore unsafe," Andretti said after turning the overall fastest lap of 223mph during the second day of testing on April 7. "We need the cars raceable, which right now, when we don't have underbody downforce, they're undrivable alone, let alone in a race and when the track temp is up. We have to think of the show and none of the drivers think of the big picture. We've got to think of the 100th running and putting on a awesome show, but they [Chevy drivers] don't care."

Hinchcliffe also advocated for the use of strakes.

"I think the bigger issue is the quality of the racing," he said after his test. "I think if you run without strakes you're taking so much downforce away from both [Honda and Chevy] that you really run the risk of not being able to race each other. We've seen such good racing with this car since it came out in 2012 and we don't want to mess with that formula.

"It's not about equivalency, it's not about what's fair for one manufacturer or another. It's about putting on a good show at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 and I think that's what most of the guys are worried about."

The Chevy teams have been mostly quiet on the subject, but Ed Carpenter was ready to move past the issue.

"You can't ask the teams what the difference will be because we'll all lie," Carpenter said with a grin. "IndyCar has hired people to make decisions and they'll decide what the racing will be and they'll manage it, and we need to shut up and race."