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IRL: Engine RPM Reduction to be introduced in June at Texas

28 May 1999

INDIANAPOLIS -- All engines in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League will be required to operate at 10,000 rpms or lower beginning at the Longhorn 500 presented by MCI WorldCom on June 12 at Texas Motor Speedway, announced Leo Mehl, executive director of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League. The new rule will be in effect for the remainder of the 1999 season. It follows a reduction in the rpms from 10,500 in 1998 to 10,300 at the beginning of 1999.

Mehl made the announcement during a press conference May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Joe Negri, GM Motorsports Indy Racing League program manager, and Frank Honsowetz, motorsports manager of Nissan North America.

The required reduction in rpms, controlled by a "rev limiter," will result in reduced speeds produced by the cars in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League.

"Reducing the revs in our engines will obviously slow the cars down, and that is the goal for doing this," said Mehl. "Fortunately, with our formula we are able to slow cars down without jeopardizing handling."

Engine revs are controlled electronically by Pep Boys Indy Racing League technical officials. In takes one technician approximately five minutes to program an engine's electronic control unit. Teams are not capable of manipulating the "rev limiters."

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