CHAMPCAR/CART: This Week in Ford Racing Oct. 5, 1999

This Week in Ford Racing October 5, 1999

FedEx Championship Series

Ford drivers from the FedEx Championship Series react to today's announcement that beginning next season, CART will employ a new rear wing aerodynamic package in eight select events.

The Handford Device MkII rear wing, which will have high- and low-downforce versions, will be instituted in races at all small and intermediate ovals, and one permanent road course, Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.

CART believes the racing will benefit from the Handford MkII. The device should eliminate the need for drivers to downshift on the ovals, thereby reducing the potential for accidents, and at the same time the MkII should improve the cars overtaking ability.

Ian Bisco -- Vice President Cosworth Racing - FROM AN ENGINE STANDPOINT, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING CART'S DECISION TO EMPLOY THE HANDFORD MKII IN COMPETITION NEXT SEASON? "Overall I think it is a positive step. I think it is good that CART is investigating ways to reduce the speeds of the cars. We all know it is important to look at areas where we can reduce speeds and increase the safety of the sport and maybe this is the right answer. We will have to reevaluate things like fuel mileage at the tracks where it is tight. Fuel economy may become more of an issue, especially at places like Elkhart Lake and some of the smaller ovals."

Michael Andretti -6- Kmart Texaco Havoline Ford - WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE HANDFORD MK II? "I think we are definitely going to be quicker, but I don't know if it will help with passing. Honestly, I don't have a feel for what it will do. We will just have to wait and see."

Christian Fittipaldi -11- Big Kmart Ford - WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HANDFORD MKII IS GOING TO DO FOR COMPETITION? "Theoretically the idea seems really good but, I am a bit reluctant to say how good before we get some practical experience with it. On tracks like Rio and Elkhart Lake, drafting will become more of an issue. The changes go in the right direction for what we are trying to achieve, but before we are in an actual racing environment we won't know."

Adrian Fernandez -40- Tecate Quaker State Ford -- WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO CART'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HANDFORD MKII? "What I am excited about it and that we are looking for a better combination. We all understand what we were trying with the superspeedway wing but it didn't really fit the purpose of the idea, but sometimes you have to go with it. But, I believe that sometimes you have to go through things like that. I think that is a good call."

DO YOU THINK THAT CHANGES NEEDED TO BE MADE ON THE SMALLER OVALS? "I think that there was a problem, especially on the smaller ovals with the superspeedway wing that we had this year. It's too dangerous to be shifting on the ovals and in that regards I think it was a good move. I hope Road America won't take away from the racing that we had there. I think the racing there is great. On the one-mile ovals the cars were just too tricky to drive with the superspeedway wings so I think this is a step in the right direction. Last year the cars were not fun to drive on the small ovals. They were way too much on the edge and way too fast on the straights."