Series News
- 2009 is the beginning of a new 10-year TV deal with the Versus TV network. Versus will broadcast at least twelve IndyCar Series events a year in HD. Versus will also broadcast extensive pre-race coverage, a one-hour preview show the day before each race including qualifying highlights, qualifications for the Indianapolis 500, a Firestone Indy Lights weekly telecast, replays of all series races a week after original broadcast, and at least ten hours of ancillary programming. Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl, and Jon Beekhuis will be the broadcast team along with Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd, and Lindy Thackston in the pits. Emmy-award winning auto-racing producer Terry Lingner will produce the coverage. Versus will air commercials using IndyCar Non-Stop.
- Firestone will offer two sets of tire compounds beginning in 2009 on road and street courses for the IR5 chassis. It will operate similar to Champ Car's "option tire" program. The alternate tires are marked with red sidewalls and are made of a softer compound. They contain more grip and allow for faster times, but do not last as long as the regular tires. Each team will receive six sets of the regular tires ("the blacks") and three sets of the new alternate tires ("the reds") for the race weekend. The car will be required to run at least two green flag laps with the alternate tires during a race.
- A new private testing policy was put into place for team for 2009, provided they participate in the TEAM revenue-sharing program. Teams will be permitted:
- 800 miles (1,300 km) or six days of testing, whichever comes first, along with eight sets of tires.
- Two-car teams may conduct 1,200 miles (1,900 km) of testing with 26 sets of tires.
- Additional team cars gain 200 miles (320 km) and four sets of tires per car.
- No testing at any track within seven days of a race.
- Teams can earn additional test days by providing opportunities to Firestone Indy Lights drivers.
- Bonus practice time for rookies and teams outside the Top 10 in points will be added starting at Long Beach. The bonus session will last from 30–45 minutes at each venue before the first practice sessions of the day for all cars. The policy is intended to promote competition, allowing teams a chance to close the gap on the Top 10 teams without paying for expensive private testing. In addition, it will provide more opportunities for rookie drivers, particularly those moving up from Indy Lights.
- Slight changes have be made to the points system in 2009, as a driver will only get two points for most laps led in a race instead of three. A point will be given for winning pole for a race.
- IndyCar Series officials have banned formerly optional 118 and 120 inch wheelbases, requiring teams to uniformly adopt 122 inch wheelbases. This will provide cost savings for the teams as well as greatly enhancing competition on the oval tracks.
- On July 28, 2009 the IRL approved "push to pass" buttons on all the cars. They would give a driver a 20 hp boost for 12 seconds with a 10-second recharge time. This will be available for use only 20 times during a given race. This feature will debut at the event at Kentucky Speedway on August 1, 2009.
Read more about this topic: 2009 Indy Car Series Season
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