INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar announced Friday it will start using its new debris deflector at the May 11 road race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, moving up the debut from the Indianapolis 500 two weeks later.
The 3/4-inch-wide titanium "AFP" piece is bolted to the car just in front of the open cockpit so it can knock away debris moving toward a driver's head. It was slated to make its debut May 26 during the series' marquee race, but IndyCar president Jay Frye said there was no reason to wait after recent work, testing and feedback.
"Thanks to a phenomenal effort by Dallara and all of the IndyCar teams, we are ahead of schedule in making this happen," Frye said.