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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Barfield Changing The Status Quo
Heat races at Iowa, standing starts on road/street courses and single file restarts on big ovals are the first major tweaks from Race Director Beaux Barfield.
Robin Miller  |  Posted February 14, 2012  
Arie Luyendyk, Beaux Barfield, Johnny Unser and Gary Barnard, L to R, comprise INDYCAR's new-look Race Control, with Barfield will overseeing changes to many practices for 2012. (IndyCar Series)
Heat races at Iowa, standing starts on road and street courses and single file restarts on big ovals are the first major tweaks new race director Beaux Barfield is making for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season.

Barfield unveiled his plans during Tuesday’s press briefing, where he also introduced his new Race Control team of Gary Barnard, Johnny Unser and two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk.

But the big news concerned a change in status quo.

"One of the things I was told when I was hired was that we needed to try and create some excitement and storylines to make our racing more interesting,’’ said Barfield, a former single-seat racer who worked in CART, Champ Car and the ALMS before taking the job with INDYCAR in January.

"So we’re going to try a few things and see if they work.’’

Instead of single-car qualifying, heat races will determine the starting lineup at Iowa in a format Barfield is still crafting.

"Nothing is more boring than single-car qualifying on an oval so I think Iowa is the perfect place to return to the roots of Indy car racing and try heats,’’ he said.

"Between the practice, the Indy Lights race and our heat races, it will be non-stop action on that Friday at Iowa.’’

The traditional 4-lap qualifying procedure remains in place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but the hairy two-by-two restarts of a year ago in the May classic have been scrapped.

"It was unanimous by the drivers and they all felt it was too dangerous, especially on that narrow front straightaway,’’ continued Barfield. "There were several close calls where a driver was forced over to the blunt edge of where the pit wall begins.

"We’ll go single file at Texas and Fontana but double file everywhere else.’’

KV Racing's Tony Kanaan, who made the most of the double-file oval restarts, wasn't sad to see them disappear at the kind of tracks Barfield mentioned.

"Even though it goes against me, Indy is such an important race it would be silly to lose it on a restart; it only makes sense to go back to single file and we all agreed on that," said Kanaan.

"It's the smart, safe thing to do."

The most intriguing change won’t be tried until later in the season but standing starts were a winner in Champ Car back in 2007 – especially on tight circuits like Long Beach and Toronto.

"They’ll create instant interest and buzz,’’ predicted Barfield. "But everybody’s got a lot on their plate right now with new cars, engines, development so we’d like to try standing starts sometime before the season ends.’’

As for the race stewards, Barfield worked with Barnard in CART and Unser in ALMS.

"I think Gary is the best person you could ask for in Race Control and I have a lot of respect for Johnny’s common sense approach,’’ said Barfield of Unser, a former chief steward for Formula Atlantic and 5-time Indy starter whose father Jerry perished in a 1959 practice accident at the Speedway.

Luyendyk will serve as driver coach, steward and calming voice for rookies.

“I wish I would have had that kind of help when I was a rookie here,’’ said the 1990 and 1997 Indy victor. "The only advice I got was from Mario Andretti and he told me this place could bite my ass in a hurry.

"At this level I think it’s more mental coaching than driver coaching. We have to teach them how to deal with certain situations and staying calm. I’ve helped Ryan Briscoe, Robert Doornbos and Charlie Kimball in the past and I really enjoy it. Johnny and I will be another set of eyes for Beaux and I’m looking forward to the first race.’’

Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
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