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IndyCar drivers say 2015 aero kits mean there will be less contact

Reigning IndyCar champion Will Power and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kannan say the new aero kits will change the way drivers race, and result in less contact between cars

After three seasons with the spec Dallara DW12, packages developed by engine manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda made their debut in last Sunday's season opener in St Petersburg.

Power's 1m00.6931s lap to claim pole position was over a second faster than Takuma Sato's a year earlier.

However with both kits featuring an array of winglets, Sunday's race included several safety car periods to retrieve pieces dislodged through contact.

St Petersburg report: Montoya defeats Power

Among the debris, Power lost part of his front-end while attempting to pass Penske team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya for the lead in the closing laps.

"It did make a difference," Power said. "Definitely lost front end [grip] when I knocked that off.

"They're not on there for no reason. They spend millions of bucks and have windtunnels to have nice little rabbit ears. It's better if you don't knock them off.

"I think you can probably [still] rub. But, yeah, you probably have less contact than with the other car."

Kanaan, third behind the Penske pair as Chevrolet filled the top six places, agrees that drivers will be more wary of contact.

"The new aero kits made the racing a lot closer, which I couldn't believe was going to happen," he said.

"In a way I think it's a good thing. In the past I think we had too much of a strong car, that we would use that against each other, and nothing would happen.

"Nowadays you're going to have to think about what to do.

"You know, you're not supposed to hit anybody. It's open-wheel; it's not stock car or touring car racing."

VIDEO: ST PETERSBURG RACE HIGHLIGHTS

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