[throb]

taken from the indystar.......curt cavin wrote........



NASCAR-style restarts are coming to the Indianapolis 500.

Like their stock car brethren, Indy-car drivers will be lined up two-by-two for restarts on all oval tracks in 2011. That's a change from the single-file restarts used for years.

The difference is in the positioning of lapped cars. NASCAR sends its to the rear to provide the best opportunity for frontrunners to battle one another.

The Izod IndyCar Series will keep lapped cars in their spot in the running order because, as competition director Brian Barnhart said, the leaders "have earned that advantage."

Officials will discuss the plan during a state-of-the-union presentation today at The Westin. It is not open to the public.

Reaction from participants to the double-file restarts has been mixed, Barnhart said. Those with NASCAR experience say the procedure is exciting. Others say it may be a recipe for accidents.

"This is not like NASCAR, where we can rub wheels and doors and get away with it," three-time 500 winner Helio Castroneves said Monday. "It will be a very stressful moment.

"I feel it's creating more of an issue, but I have to give compliments to the officials for trying something. It will be great excitement for the fans, no question."

Also expected to be announced today is the return of the Edmonton race July 24. It was called off last year because of costs associated with changes to City Centre Airport, site of the race.

The 500 is the first of eight oval races. Road courses and street circuits will continue to have single-file restarts because there often is only one lane through tight corners.