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INDYCAR: Series Continues To Develop Anti-Stall System
The implementation of anti-stall appears to be on the way, but it might not happen in time for the season-opening race.
Marshall Pruett  |  Posted March 18, 2012  
Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe waves to the camera as he's towed back to the pits after spinning and stalling his Dallara DW12-Chevrolet in testing at Sebring. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Compared to some of the drivers that participated in IndyCar’s Spring Training session, Sebring’s tow truck drivers turned a similar number of laps in testing due to the high volume of spins and stalls during the week-long event.

INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the IZOD IndyCar Series, had intended to test the first iteration of its new-for-2012 anti-stall system (provided by AP Racing) at Sebring, which would automatically disengage the clutch and keep the engine running in the event of a spin.

Without on-board starters, the anti-stall system was targeted as a tool to reduce the number of yellow flags for stalled cars, but according to the series’ tech boss, INDYCAR chose to hold off on testing the system at Sebring with an eye to expanding its functions.

Beyond its on-track capabilities, INDYCAR is now investigating the use of its anti-stall system to double as a safeguard that Formula One drivers have come to rely on during pit stops.

“[Using anti-stall] is still on the plate, partly because drivers have requested and specifically asked for us to try and make the anti-stall to be of use to them in the pits,” Will Phillips told SPEED.com.

“Initially, anti-stall was put on the table as a means to reduce the number of on-track yellows. As they started using the car, they came back and asked if we can also make it work in the pits during pits stops.”

The implementation of anti-stall appears to be on the way, but it might not happen in time for the season-opening race next weekend, which was the original plan.

“We told the drivers we were happy to look into its use on pit lane; we never intended that it couldn't be used in that capacity, but it might require a different set of thresholds to be part of the [anti-stall software] strategy. That’s added some complexity to it for us, which we’re currently working through.”

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett on Twitter.
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