IndyCar – Tech Inspection
Before conducting the IndyCar Series, all the cars are properly inspected as a safety measure. This inspection is conducted on every weekend. The inspection is based on five rounds. These rounds are initial, prequalifying, post-qualifying, pre-race and postrace.
Initial Inspection
Before any track activity, the initial inspection is done. A team of 15 officials carry out this inspection. These officials are known as inspectors and are monitored by the IndyCar Series technical director. This inspection may take up to eight hours for all cars.
Pre-Qualifying
During this process, a car’s body, mandated safety features, underwing/chassis, engine, fuel cell, height, weight and measurements are inspected to assure that the cars meet the IndyCar Series needs. The inspection process is grounded upon the entrant points.
Post Qualifying
During the safety inspection, the inspector assures that all the racing cars match the safety demands of the IndyCar Series. The equipment inspected during this session are the SWEMS restraints, seat, headrests, seat belts, fasteners, pedal position, steering wheel release, driver’s helmet, earpieces and frontal head restraint, and on-board fire bottle.
Pre-Race
The inspectors involved in the inspection process use approximately 60 templates at the gauge and template station. These templates are used to measure all the cars and to make sure that each car meets the demands of the IndyCar Series.
Post-Race
The final station for inspection is the tech pad. In the tech pad, measurements are made for all those cars which need to be levelled and sitting on its reference plane.