New Safety Device to be Added

Photo credit: Jeff Majeske

The new Advanced Frontal Protection debris deflector as seen on Alexander

Rossi's car during last week's test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A new driver safety device will be added to cars of the NTT IndyCar Series starting with the next race - the IndyCar Grand Prix on May 11 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.

Called the Advanced Frontal Protection debris deflector, the titanium piece was validated during last week’s open test on the oval.

The AFP is bolted on the Dallara IR-18 chassis centerline ahead of the cockpit and is designed to push flying debris away from the driver. With brackets and monocoque reinforcement, the AFP weighs just under 5 pounds and has passed the same load testing as the Indy car roll hoop sitting behind and above the driver.

Driver James Hinchcliffe of Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports praised the added safety feature. Hinchcliffe suffered a concussion when he was hit in the helmet by debris during the 2014 Indy Grand Prix.

“It's great to see that IndyCar is always pushing safety,” Hinchcliffe said. “Obviously, this is just Step 1 in an evolution of head protection. But having been hit by a piece of debris that would've been prevented with this device, I'm all for it.”

IndyCar President Jay Frye called the AFP the initial phase of the solution to improve cockpit safety. The next phase is expected to be revealed in May. The 103^rd Indianapolis 500 is May 26.