The third day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 saw increased frustration among drivers due to the heavier IndyCars. While familiar names topped the speed charts, many drivers struggled to come to terms with the handling of the cars around the 2.5-mile oval.
Drivers like Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti voiced their concerns about the impact of the extra weight, particularly at the rear of the car, on its handling. Rahal took to social media to express his frustration, stating the need to "crank up the boost, cowboy up and go find what we need". Santino Ferrucci's frustration reached a boiling point, resulting in a drive-thru penalty after he put all four tires over the white line on the warmup apron. Even Alex Palou, the seemingly invincible points leader, had to make changes to his car.
The challenges posed by the heavier hybrid cars were anticipated as far back as the April open test, where experienced drivers like Kyle Larson and Takuma Sato experienced crashes. The added weight, reportedly between 100 and 110 pounds, significantly impacts the car's mass percentage. This increase in weight is largely attributed to the addition of safety components over the years, such as the Aeroscreen and driver side-impact devices. While these additions are crucial for driver safety, they have undeniably affected the cars' agility.
IndyCar President Jay Frye acknowledged the concerns regarding the weight of the cars. He noted that safety components have been the highest contributing factor to the weight gain. However, he believes the safety benefits outweigh the negatives. Frye also mentioned that IndyCar is actively working to reduce the overall weight of the car, with future innovations including a planned lightening of the Aeroscreen.
The weight of an IndyCar is a crucial element affecting its overall performance. It influences speed, maneuverability, and safety. Under current regulations, the minimum weight of an IndyCar is between 748 kg and 766 kg without the driver, fluids, and fuel. The weight distribution also plays a significant role, with teams often adding ballast to lighter drivers' cars to meet the minimum weight requirement and optimize the center of gravity.
The drivers' struggle with the heavier cars raises questions about the upcoming qualifying and the May 25 race. It remains to be seen how the teams will adapt to these challenges and whether they can find a setup that allows them to maintain competitive speeds while ensuring driver safety. Despite the frustrations, drivers like Pato O'Ward remain optimistic. O'Ward acknowledged that his car has more than enough speed and praised the team's work in tuning the speed-related aspects.
