Technological innovation and a commitment to safety mark Ford Special Vehicle Operations Technologies newest contribution to Indy car racing and also introduces its new status as an official corporate sponsor of the PPG CART World Series. Ford, an industry leader in production vehicle safety design, will work with CART to continue an impact sensor program to help improve vehicle safety and better understand the effects of high G forces on the human body.

The impact sensor program will facilitate the gathering of data by mounting a small sensor pack inside the cockpit, so that, in the event of an accident, the force and direction of impact can be recorded. With these recordings, accurate accident simulations can be created. These simulations, along with injury assessment technology, can be used to understand driver tolerances and the effects of countermeasures within the PPG CART series.

"We are happy to work with CART and equally excited about the opportunity to help develop a safer racing environment," said Bruce Cambern, director of Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations. "This impact sensor program allows us to bring the existing technology in this field to CART while announcing our commitment to the series as an official sponsor," Cambern said.

The sensors are semi-permanent installation enabling the recording device to draw power from the vehicle’s own electronic system, allowing the recording component to remain on the vehicle for constant data recording through race, qualifying and practice sessions.

"Safety is of paramount concern to everyone involved in racing," said Andrew Craig, CART President and chief executive officer. "The more we know about the behavior of race cars, the safer they will become. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Ford on this important project and to have the benefit of their vast experience in the field of safety research."

Selected vehicles will be fitted with prototype sensors beginning with the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami on March 2, while full implementation is planned for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13.