After doubts have been raised final week by Pato O’Ward about the ability for cars in the pack to overtake, akin to a Method 1-style ‘DRS prepare’, Crew Penske’s reigning IndyCar champion Energy thinks that tyre degradation can play an enormous position in permitting drivers to work their approach in direction of the entrance.
Within the aftermath of the crash involving Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson in the present day, Energy additionally predicts extra shunts on Sunday as a result of the vehicles can run very carefully collectively.
“It is really a extremely good package deal,” mentioned Energy, who will begin 12th on Sunday.
“That is why nobody has actually crashed [until now], which suggests it will be a really fierce race. I believe it will be very tight.
“Perhaps there’s extra accidents within the race. It will be an excellent battle.”
Energy, who gained the Indy 500 in 2018, thinks there might be loads of overtaking between the leaders this weekend, with the vehicles boasting as much as 10 per cent extra downforce than final yr.
“It will be straightforward to cross, not within the pack however on the entrance, since you’ve added downforce,” he defined. “The entrance three will race fairly exhausting.
“You really have not added a lot drag. The vehicles are about the identical velocity as a result of they’re very environment friendly, aero bits or strakes and a few ground stuff, so it isn’t massive draggy wicker on the wing or something.
“It is the closest I’ve ever been in a position to run to a automobile at this place with out a problem.”
Will Energy, Crew Penske Chevrolet
Picture by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images
When requested for his ideas about how troublesome it could be to overhaul when in a prepare of vehicles, Energy replied: “It could be ridiculous to have sufficient downforce for everybody to cross, however the one factor there may be, there’s tyre deg. So, I believe that may create good racing within the pack.
“The left sides are softer. They get vibrations extra simply and the tyre degrades, so if it is a sizzling day like this, there might be vehicles coming and going, I believe.
“I believe it is simply because the left sides are softer. They only degrade simpler. I have not had a set with out a vibration but.
“I’ve had a pair which have been huge and you need to pit and I’ve had a pair – the final one I simply did a full stint, but it surely’s nonetheless there. It is left-side – left-front and left-rear. Relies upon which slides extra.
“I believe it makes for higher racing. It wanted some deg.
“On an excellent sizzling day, I believe it will be an excellent race.”
