New IRL rules a disaster in the making

Sam Hornish pans the IRL for changing the rules to give the cars more downforce this year, which will result in the 'pack' racing being even tighter. We all know from past experience what happens when IRL cars run in packs and two cars touch wheels – they crash, and they crash in a big way, many times resulting in driver injuries, and always resulting in major car damage.

"It will be a little bit tighter field, of course," said Hornish. "If you add more wing angle, it's going to make it a little bit easier for the cars to draft up, and the car will be easier to drive."

"The unfortunate part about it is that it's going to bring more of the pack together," he said. (i.e. even less talent required to run at the front of the grid than before.)

"I thought we saw a fantastic race in the closing laps last year. You had five or six guys fighting for the win and capable to win.

"You saw one of the closest finishes that we've had in IndyCar Series history. Why we're doing it, I'm not sure. But that's the choice of the technical group."

"It's very hard when you run that much wing to get any disparity between the top car and perhaps the slowest," he said.

"With the way that the rules are going in IndyCars, I think we're going to see even closer finishes."