CART owners decide to freeze rules

A freeze will be implemented for next year's chassis and aero package based on the final specifications at the end of the 2002 season, and that freeze may be extended through 2004.

Team owner Derrick Walker said he supports the decision, but is disappointed that development will be allowed to continue through the rest of this year. Walker said he fought hard for the freeze to take effect immediately.

"This will be detrimental to all of the Reynard teams, because as everyone knows, with Reynard's financial problems, there will be no further development this year from Reynard," Walker commented.

The decision means that CART will not adopt the Indy Racing League's chassis rules for the 2003 season. However, CART is pressing ahead with plans to switch to a 3.5-litre normally aspirated engine, so adapter kits will be sold to teams to update their current chassis to accept the new engines. MG Rover is the only manufacturer that has officially committed to CART's new engine formula to date, although Cosworth has stated that it has a 2003-spec CART engine under development.

Also discussed but not agreed in the meeting was the concept of limiting teams to a single engine for each race weekend. Walker said he believes such a move could save teams $300,000-400,000 annually.

CART team owners also expressed concern about the use of qualifying engines and would like to see a restriction implemented as soon as possible.