There is nothing worse than watching an auto race that is going to be determined by fuel mileage. Fortunately, IndyCar is trying to alleviate that problem.
Occasionally, a race where pit and fuel strategy are critical factors in determining a race winner is OK, but too many times fuel economy dictates who wins.
NASCAR races at the Indianapolis, Pocono, Kansas and other tracks always seems to come down to the driver who stretches fuel for the most laps. The announcers proclaim the fuel window in a certain number of laps and then a driver and team pushes that window for the victory. It makes one wonder if there was some extra fuel hidden somewhere.
IndyCar announced Monday that the race distance for four events were being changed in an effort to discourage fuel-mileage racing. After all, the drivers are supposed to race flat out and not hold back in an effort to get every mile per gallon out of the car.
Three of the races with altered distances are either a street or road course. Long Beach will see a decrease of five laps to 80, St. Petersburg will be extended by 10 laps to 110 and Mid-Ohio will be increased by five laps to 90.
The race at the Milwaukee Mile will be lengthened by 25 laps to make it 250.
According to IndyCar, the new distances better match traditional fuel windows on each circuit.
“Changing the distances at these races will hopefully eliminate the strategy of saving fuel from the drop of the green flag,” Beaux Barfield, Izod IndyCar Series race director, said. “That will enable our teams and drivers to race hard for the full distance and improve the event’s entertainment value for the fans.”
Since St. Petersburg is the first race of the 2013 season, it will be interesting to watch to see if the increased distance has the desired impact.
IndyCar officials announced the 2013 television schedule with ABC covering six of the 19 events, including the Indianapolis 500, and the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) televising the remaining 13 races.
Series officials also announced that the starting field at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 13 will be determined by three 30-lap heat races. The heat races will be run on Saturday and the feature event on Sunday.
Heat race one will consist of even-numbered positions, starting with position 8, from single car qualifying The second heat race will consist of the odd-numbered positions, starting with position 7 from qualifying.
The top two finishers in these two heat races will than compete in the third heat race along with the top six qualifiers to determine the first five rows for the Iowa Corn Indy 250.
It’s an interesting concept and should add some excitement to the Iowa race. What’s needed is for NBCSN to step up and television the three heat races. If the concept proves popular with fans, it could be implemented at other oval tracks, such as the Milwaukee Mile.
Ken de la Bastide may be reached at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com or 765-454-8580.
Sports
de la Bastide: IndyCar announces schedule changes
Iowa Speedway comes up with an interesting plan
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Field is set for Indianapolis 500
After being bumped from the starting field while sitting on the qualifying line on pole day, Josef Newgarden turned the fastest time on bump day, assuring himself a spot in the Indianapolis 500.
The field of 33 cars will have one final opportunity to practice on Friday before next Sunday’s 97th running of the 500.
One year ago the Sarah Fisher Racing Team withdrew Newgarden’s entry on the first day of qualifying and had to qualify on bump day. This year the team decided not to make another qualifying run and got bumped. -
Athlete of the week
Cole led the small-school Comets to the Kokomo Sectional title, their first title since 1998.
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Kats regain tennis throne
At 10:51 a.m. Saturday morning, the bulk of Kokomo’s girls tennis team sprinted from the viewing hill to the east entrance of the tennis courts to mob No. 1 singles player Morgan Mohr as she came off the court following her 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Eastern’s Courtney Clark.
The No. 3 singles match was still raging, but the team match was already won. The Wildkats had reconquered the throne from two-time defending champion Eastern and were once again champions of the Kokomo Sectional. -
Eastern boys track claims first sectional title since 1998
The boys track and field coach at Eastern High School from 1987 until last season, Paul Nicholson’s parting message to his team was simple: “Don’t deny the gift.”
That motto left such a lasting impression on the Comets’ returning athletes that they had it screen printed on their 2013 season T-shirts.
With Nicholson in attendance to celebrate with them, new coach Austin Roark and the Comets outlasted host Kokomo to win their first sectional title since 1998 Thursday night, topping the Wildkats by 3.5 points, 124.5-121.
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Eastern, Kokomo favored in boys track sectional
Some of the names and faces have changed, but the plot remains much the same.
The Kokomo boys track and field sectional, much like last year, will likely be a two-horse race between the host and three-time defending champion Wildkats and Eastern, a team looking to break through and win its first sectional title since 1998. -
Cole to jump at Miami University
Eastern athlete Grant Cole has only been a long jumper for two seasons, but being turned on to the event late in his career has landed him a scholarship to Miami University.
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Comets roar to sectional title
As the old adage goes, it’s harder stay on top than it is to reach the top.
Eastern’s girls track and field team entered the 2012 postseason hoping to put in a strong enough effort to claim the program’s first sectional title.
Having done so, the Comets entered Tuesday’s postseason opener — the Madison-Grant Sectional — with a much larger bull’s-eye on their backs than in previous years.
Eastern proved up to the challenge, scoring a landslide victory to repeat as sectional champions with 125 points. -
Dexter leaving Eastern
Eastern girls basketball coach Jeremy Dexter has stepped down from the Comet program after accepting the AD job at Churubusco last week. Churubusco is in Whitley County about 15 minutes west of Fort Wayne.
Dexter led the Comets to a Class 2A state runner-up finish this past season. -
Hunter edges Shrout in Thunder Car thriller
Two drivers who are no strangers to Victory Lane returned there Sunday night at the Kokomo Speedway. Meanwhile, a third driver scored just the second feature win of his career at the local oval to highlight the racing action.
Chris Hunter, the winningest Thunder Car driver in the history of the local oval, ground out a gritty win over defending track champion Jason Shrout to highlight the chilly night. -
Girls track sectional is tonight
Eastern’s girls track and field team is ready to chase some more championship hardware.
Two weeks ago, the Comets won their fourth straight Howard County meet. Last week, they won their fourth straight Mid-Indiana Conference meet. Now, the postseason is here, with the Madison-Grant Sectional tonight.
“We’re looking forward to taking the next step,” Eastern coach Michael Goodspeed said. - More Sports Headlines
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