New 2007 F1 rules will add more action, strategy to USGP
Car Identification
The TV camera housing on the roll hoop of the first car of a team must be painted fluorescent red while the second car's camera housing must be painted fluorescent yellow.
Cockpit
Each car has a GPS system this year so officials know exactly where it is on the track at all times.
Each car must be fitted with red, blue and yellow cockpit lights that warn the drivers of impending track conditions – race or session stopped, a faster car is approaching and danger, respectively – which work in parallel with the flag signals displayed by corner workers.
Each car has a medical warning light, connected to the FIA data logger, which gives rescue crews an instant indication of the severity of an accident.
Engines
As in 2006, a driver must use the same engine for two consecutive race weekends. But this year the race weekend is defined as Saturday and Sunday, and there are no restrictions on the number of engines used Friday.
The same penalties apply to a driver for an unscheduled engine change: 10 places back on the grid if the engine is changed before qualifying and sent to the back of the starting lineup if the engine is changed after qualifying.
Before the start of the 2007 season, the teams had to submit drawings of their engine components and an actual engine to the FIA. Other than limited modifications allowed before the first race of 2007, this had to be the same engine the team used in the last two races of 2006.
Each team's engine specification has been frozen, and this homologated engine will be used from 2007 through 2011. While the core of the engine may not be modified, some changes are permitted to the peripheral areas, such as exhaust pipes and spark plugs.
All engines are 2.4-liter V8s, and this year they are limited to 19,000 rpm.
Friday Practice
Last year's two 60-minute practice sessions on Friday are replaced with two 90-minute sessions. They take place from 10-11:30 a.m. and from 2-3.30 p.m., including Friday, June 15 for the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. A team can run two cars in each session with either its race drivers or reserve/test drivers taking part. But no more than two drivers are permitted in each session.
Minimum Weight
The minimum weight of the car and driver must be at least 1,333.80 pounds (605 kg) at all times during the race weekend. In the past, the minimum weight was 1,333.80 pounds for practice and qualifying and 1,322.77 pounds (600 kg) for the race.
Safety
New, even more stringent crash and penetration tests are in place for 2007. A new rear impact absorbing structure is fitted to all cars.
Safety Car
Pit lane will remain closed until all cars are lined up behind the Safety Car.
Before the restart, lapped cars that are among the cars on the lead lap will be waved around the Safety Car and will take up position at the rear of the field. This rule does not apply to lapped cars that that are at the back of the line with no leading cars ahead of them.
Tires
Bridgestone is the sole tire supplier in F1 this year. It has produced four different compounds of dry-weather tires – super soft, soft, medium and hard – and brings two compounds to each Grand Prix. At the United States Grand Prix, the drivers will use the soft and medium compounds.
The rules this year require a driver to run both types of dry-weather tires during the race unless it is raining. Last year, a driver had to use the same tire compound for qualifying and the race. A white stripe around the bottom of the inside groove of the tire makes it easy to identify the softer of the two compounds.
This year, a driver can use 14 sets of dry-weather tires (56 tires) compared to seven sets (28 tires) in 2006 during the race weekend. Four sets (two of each specification) are used Friday, and the remaining 10 sets (five of each specification) Saturday and Sunday.
A driver also may use up to four sets of wet-weather tires and three sets of extreme wet-weather tires if it rains during the weekend.
Track Testing
Each team may complete no more than 18,641 miles (30,000 km) of testing per calendar year. The venues, dates and duration of each test are restricted. Bridgestone supplies each team with 300 sets of tires per year for testing.
The testing limits do not apply to the Friday practice sessions on Grand Prix weekends.
A maximum of 12 straight-line tests and 12 "shakedown" tests of no more than 31 miles (50 km) also are permitted.
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2007 USGP tickets: Reserved Race Day and three-day "Season Passes" for the 2007 United States Grand Prix, June 15-17, are on sale to all customers.
Ticket information can be found any time at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling the IMS Ticket Office at (800) 822-4639 or (317) 492-6700. Ticket Office hours are from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.