MAKEOVER AT INDY

Nothing can assure a driver’s safety at speeds of more than 220 m.p.h., but renovations at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy 500 on May 30 are designed to help avoid the kind of race that took place last year. In 1992, there were 10 accidents that put 13 cars out of action and left 14 drivers injured or at least examined at hospitals. A higher, sturdier wall encircles the track and new warm-up lanes, separated from the race track by an asphalt strip and grass belt, are part of the new features. Additional improvements include viewer mounds in the infield, a new championship golf course with four holes in the infield and improved spectator seating.

WARM-UP LANES The two new lanes, 22 feet wide, stretch from the end of the pits through the inside of Turns 1 and 2 to the beginning of the back straight; and from the end of the back straight; through the inside of Turns 3 and 4 into the start of the pits. The hoped-for effect is that fast traffic in the corners will be safely separated from the slower traffic either warming up or exiting or entering the pits. The lanes will be separated from the track by warning strips and 12-foot-wide grass belt. All traffic exiting the pits will now enter the track at the exit of Turn 2 instead of Turn 1. Drivers have three options for entering the pits: the entry to Turn 3, the entry to Turn 4 or the old entry route at the exit of Turn 4.

ATTENUATOR At the entry to the pits, foam material at the end of the pit wall and guard rail acts as a cushion. Built before the 1992 race, it replaced a collapsible metal structure. The cushion is 11 feet from its nose to the concrete abutment at the head of the pit wall and 7 feet 11 inches wide at the base.

THE WARNING STRIPS The strips, 30 inches wide with recessed grooves, will prevent drivers from dropping down below what was the white line, or warm-up apron, as they head into turns, thus keeping cars on the 60-foot-wide racing surface. Accidents that begin low on the track in the corners result in more severe angles of impact with the outside wall. Running higher on the track softens that angle and might help reduce injuries. There is some concern, however, over how cars traveling at speed will react when they hit the rumble strip and some question about the wisdom of using the grass buffer strips because of the lack of traction.

WALL The new wall around the 2 1/2-mile oval is 42 inches high, except on the main straight, where it is 39 inches. It is more heavily reinforced than the old wall and has safety cabling and catch-fencing nearly 20 feet tall. The wall is 12 inches thick, has 188 tons of steel reinforcement and is inclined 88 degrees to the track surface. It has a glossy, smooth surface and rounded edges. The old wall varied from 8 to 10 inches thick, had 42 tons of steel reinforcement and was at 90 degrees to the track.

TRACK COMPOSITION

The speedway has been resurfaced several times since its opening in 1909, most recently in 1988. The original Indianapolis 500 was raced on paving brick, which led to its nickname, the Brickyard. The surface is 13 inches thick. Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway