Change to keep Indy race cars on track

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Ed Carpenter’s car flies into the wall during practice before qualification for the Indianapolis 500. Picture / AP

Ed Carpenter’s car flies into the wall during practice before qualification for the Indianapolis 500. Picture / AP

IndyCar has mandated the use of closure panels to the rear wheel guards for the remaining three super speedway races in the US after three cars went airborne during preparation for the Indianapolis 500.

The panels will be required for Chevrolet and Honda and will debut at Texas Motor Speedway. They also will be used at Auto Club Speedway in California and Pocono Raceway this season.

IndyCar has tried various different rule changes since Ed Carpenter unexpectedly went airborne on qualifying day for the Indy 500.

Helio Castroneves and Josef Newgarden also went airborne in separate incidents.

IndyCar vice-president of technology Will Phillips said this week that the closure panels will be a blocker that prevents air from flowing through the wheel guards.

-AP

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