IndyCar allowing different body kit options

As the two overhead photos of Simon Pagenaud's Chevy shows, IndyCar is allowing teams to change their body kits in an effort to get speeds up close to the track record (but not break it until next year for the 100th running of the Indy 500). We guess they are not homologated after all.

And IndyCar is allowing the teams to run asymmetrical bodywork – in other words run the bodywork shown in the upper photo on one side of the car and the one from the lower photo on the other side.

Pagenaud's sidepods earlier in the week

Pagenaud's sidepods Friday

"We have all these different options and we want to see what the difference in the balance of the car is and the downforce," said team owner Roger Penske, who has won a record 15 Indy 500s as a team owner. “Today is the day to test and we will see where we go tomorrow. It’s gathering information, we’ll see what we have tonight and decide tomorrow.

“The great thing about it right now is we can look at all different options. I think Saturday you will see the cars all different and that will be the difference for the fast lap."

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves went straight up with a basic Aero Kit and was able to have the best four-lap qualification simulation average on Friday afternoon.

"We tried different things and that is the advantage that Team Penske will work together," Pagenaud said. “We tried different configurations. It was an interesting day. We got a lot of information for the engineers. It will be an interesting day on Saturday. The temperature seems to play a big effect on the Aero Kit this year. We tried different configurations on all four cars and that gives us options to decide."

"We are just playing around," Moyer said. "It all counts about being in the Fast Nine on Saturday so we can play on Sunday. That is why we have a four-car team so we can try different things and see who is best and come out again on Saturday. The resources here are really good. There are some resources here that told us that might be a good way to go.

“There are some smart people on this team."

With the mixed Aero Kit, Power had the fifth fastest lap on Friday at 230.206 mph, also in a Chevrolet.

“The split package, we are just trying things amongst the team but I’m not sure it’s going to work," Power said. “I don’t think it is good enough in hot temperatures. We had to try it and see what it is like because with the full sidepods it wasn’t possible in this temperature and even with half-sidepods it wasn’t as fast as I would like. We’ll have to look at it overnight. We have plenty of data to try with both cars. You have to try stuff."

"Like I said last Saturday, it has to work for you. The wind has to be right and the temperature has to be right and it has to be your turn. There are plenty of good cars out there and I would love to have a shot at the pole. My teammates and the Chip Ganassi guys will be very strong. A couple of the Honda drivers look pretty good, too."