INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Racing League has increased the championship points awarded to lower-finishing cars to discourage late-race scrambles in possibly dangerous situations.
It also has adopted rule changes to reduce speeds and promote better fuel conservation.
Now, each car finishing in spots 19-24 will receive 12 points, and each car finishing in 25-33 will receive 10 points.
"We felt the points awarded for positions 29-33 was too low, particularly if it involved a full-time IndyCar Series team," said Brian Barnhart, head of racing operations. "Second, by adjusting the points for positions 19-24, teams who had suffered car damage would not feel compelled to get back on the track and run for points."
Previously, 19th place received 11 points and each successive position got one point less, down to one point for 29th and below.
The IRL also increased the number of bonus points from two to three for leading the most laps.
Other rule changes announced Tuesday include the requirement that all teams use identical vertical wickers at tracks more than a mile long, except at Indianapolis. The narrow, removable wind spoilers will be attached to the rear-most edge of the rear wing and are designed to cut speeds.
The IRL also reduced the capacity of fuel tanks from 35 gallons to 30, and the total amount of methanol available. The available fuel will range from 97 gallons for 200-mile events to 245 gallons for 500-mile races.
The season opens Feb. 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
ANOTHER JUNIOR: Arie Luyendyk Jr., son of the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, will start the season in the developmental Infiniti Pro Series while he tries to line up sponsorship for at least a part-time IRL ride.
