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1. Microsoft TweakUI – One of the rarer instances where Microsoft has named a product which users will find easier to know the function of by looking at its name. The newer TweakUI PowerToy for Windows XP is one of those listed on the 


Tyres: After ten years of seeing grooved tyres, F1 enthusiasts wil lsee thereturn of slicks. A change in nomenclature too for the tyres known as ‘standard wets’ last year are now called ‘intermediates’ and ‘extreme wets’ are called just ‘wets’. At each race the softer of the two dry compounds available and the wet weather tyres will be marked with green rings to distinguish themselves.
Engines: Engines may not exceed 18,000rpm (reduced from 19,000 rpm of last year). Drivers must now use the same engine for three, rather than two, consecutive events. Teams will be limited to eight engines per season – eight for each race driver and an additional four for testing. Just one team – Renault – has been allowed to make performance modifications to their engine for 2009 in order to help equalise power outputs.
Pitlane Access during Safety Car periods: The rule stating that the pit lane is closed during a Safety Car period will be scrapped in 2009. The rule was introduced in 2007 to avoid people rushing back to the pits to refuel, possibly speeding through a danger zone, but software has been successfully developed to solve this problem. The pit lane will now remain open throughout any safety-car period, allowing drivers to refuel without penalty. However, to ensure that drivers are not tempted to speed back to the pit lane, a new software system which employs GPS and the cars’ standard ECU has been introduced. When the safety car is deployed, each driver is given a minimum ‘back to pit’ time based on his position on track. If he arrives in the pit lane before that time he will be penalised.
















