By Andrew Cutler
January 16 2010

In the past few days there have been a few 'minor' alterations to the engine/tech/safety specs for the 2010 IndyCar Season. In addition, the dates/locations for 'open' testing were announced. And finally, the series' biggest media star has landed a role in an upcomming episode of a popular US primetime TV drama. Here are all the details:

TECH STUFF:

The overtake assist (or push to pass, as it is usually called by the fans), which gave the drivers an extra 5 to 20 horsepower by pushing a button on their steering wheel (you could only use it so many times before it was gone), will be back in 2010, with nearly twice the 'boost' from last year.

Gone from previous year will be the multiple fuel mixture settings, which allowed the drivers to 'lean out' their engines in an effort to stretch their milage on a tank of ethanol. Starting this year, they will have to figure out how to do that entirely with their right foot.

In driver safety news, a new 'floating back' head rest has been developed that will help to ease the G-force strains on a driver's head and neck in the event of a reward crash.

TESTING:

The IRL will hold two 'open' (all teams are invited) tests in 2010. Unlike previous years, only one will be in the preseason; February 24-26 at the Barber Motorsports Park road course in Alabama. The oval 'open' test will be on May 3-4 at Kentucky Motor Speedway, which is after the first oval race of the season, the weekend before at Kansas.

In addition to the 'open' tests, teams may run up to six days/800 miles in privately scheduled tests throughout the season. Team Penske, FAZZT Race Team and Sarah Fisher racing will all be using part of their alotment early next week (Jan 18-20) at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

DANICA PATRICK, TV STAR:

Andretti Autosport's Danica Patrick will appear in an episode of the popular US crime drama 'CSI:NY'. For those unfamiliar with the CSI franchise (there are three CSI series here in the States), it follows a group of forensic examiners as they try to solve crimes. Danica will be featured in the episode to air on Wednesday, February 10 on CBS at 10pm ET. It is my understanding that the series also airs in the UK & Ireland, but with an approximate three month lag per episode in relation to it's US broadcast.

There was no word on the nature of Danica's role in the episode.