P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Firestone has brought a different compound tire to IndyCar’s season-opening round in St. Petersburg, which could lead to a bevy of pit stops during the event. The main difference this year is that the softer alternate compound tire is considerably softer than in seasons past. Teams were aware of the update coming into the weekend, […]
The main difference this year is the considerably softer alternate compound tire than in past seasons, catching teams off guard with higher wear rates than predicted. Colton Herta noted the extreme tire usage during qualifying, already hinting at the likelihood of a three-stop strategy for the race. With 100 laps ahead, drivers will have ample opportunities to pit for fresher tires due to the quicker degradation of the softer compound. Each driver having one less set of the harder primary tires this year adds another strategic element, potentially leading to teams using scrubbed primary tires during the race. As the season opener in St. Petersburg approaches, all eyes will be on how the tires perform under race conditions and how teams adapt their strategies on the fly. It remains to be seen if the predicted rapid wear of the tires will indeed play out, but one thing is certain – Sunday’s race is set to provide an exciting mix of pit strategies and on-track action.
