NASCAR Cup Series

Bahrain has until May 1 to set new date for GP

Published Mar. 8, 2011 9:22 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The governing body of motorsports has given Bahrain's federation until May 1 to decide if a new date can be set for the Bahrain Grand Prix this year.

FIA's World Motor Sport Council announced the decision after meeting in Paris on Tuesday.

The Bahrain GP was originally scheduled to be the season-opening Formula One race on March 13. It was canceled last month by Bahrain's Crown Prince after anti-government protests in the country.

Plans to hold the race during the championship's summer break have been criticized because of the high temperatures in the region.

The first race of the Formula One season will be March 27 in Melbourne, Australia.

FIA also announced that when the safety car is deployed, its speed limit during races will be enforced over two laps instead of one.

''The purpose is to ensure that cars are driven at a safe speed until they reach the safety car,'' FIA said. ''Other than when the safety car has been asked to use the pit lane, no car may enter the pits while the safety car is deployed unless it is for the purpose of changing tires.''

FIA also said F1 teams will get to test an extra set of dry weather and prime tires at certain races.

share

Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

NASCAR Cup Series