TORONTO -- The recent rash of tires falling off Champ cars after pit stops has prompted CART to take action.

Lee Dykstra, director of technology and competition for CART, has informed teams that future incidents will bring a $5,000 fine and, if the car gets back into the race, a one-lap penalty.

Beyond that, the warning states: "Any such improperly secured wheels causing damage to any competitor's race car, or causing injury to any person, will result in exclusion from the event.''

The new rules will go into effect for Sunday's Toronto Molson-Indy.

Christian Fittipaldi and Scott Dixon both had tires come off after leaving their pit stall last Sunday during the Chicago Grand Prix. Paul Tracy and Kenny Brack both lost tires in similar fashion in the two previous races.

Tracy, whose team recently switched from Reynard to Lola chassis, said the new cars are partially to blame for the tire problem.

"It only has one locking pit and one is not enough,'' he said. "They have made stronger ones, but Reynard has two on it and you never saw that problem with Reynard.

"I think they are addressing the problem, but these things take time with 17 drivers out there and everybody has two cars. It's not an easy fix or something that you can just fix tomorrow.''

Adding to the problem is the fact that CART has changed its rules this season to allow teams enough fuel at every race to run flat out. That eliminates boring fuel economy runs but puts more pressure on the pit crews to get the cars back onto the track.

"They used to have to wait to get every drop of fuel in,'' said series leader Cristiano da Matta. "Now, it takes about a second or two less to fuel, because they don't have to get it all in, and they're trying to get the tires on quicker. Track position is so important.

"If the wheel isn't on really tight, it's going to come off.''

With the new fuel rules, CART has also established mandatory pit stops at specified intervals at each race to make sure nobody runs out of fuel. The teams are required to change four tires during those stops.

In Sunday's 112-lap event on Toronto 1.755-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit, the cars will not be allowed to drive more than 34 laps without pitting.

Happy meeting
Alex Zanardi, at the track this week for the first time since losing both legs in a crash last September in Germany, made it a point to visit with Alex Tagliani, the driver who ran into his car.

"I just wanted to tell him once again that it's totally understandable that he still feels guilty, but he has no reason for it. He was only unlucky to be there at that time,'' Zanardi said.

The two-time CART champion was leaving the pits when he spun on cold tires and skidded onto the track. Tagliani hit Zanardi's car at nearly 200 mph and sliced through it. Only miraculous work by CART's safety team saved Zanardi's life.

After extensive rehabilitation, he now walks with the aid of two canes and a pair of prosthetic legs.

Asked about their conversation on Saturday, Tagliani said, "I was relieved a little bit, but also I think that I'm lucky that Alex is a very strong guy and, mentally, he's wanted to get back on his feet and start to have a normal life like he had before the crash.''

Tagliani added, "I'd be lying if I said I could forget about it -- I will never forget about it. It'll always be on my mind, but I'm learning to not make it so painful.''

Haircut update
The four Brazilian drivers in CART had their heads partially shaved last week in Chicago in honor of soccer hero Ronaldo, their countryman who has only a triangle of hair at the front of his head.

Da Matta said he got some very strange looks as he and his parents walked around Chicago the day after the race there.

"It wasn't a lot of fun going through airport security, either,'' he said.

Da Matta and the rest of his haircut cohorts -- teammate Fittipaldi, Bruno Junqueira and Tony Kanaan -- all tired of the Ronaldo cut quickly and shaved the rest of their head, going for the bald look.

"Before, we looked like punk rockers,'' Kanaan said. "Now, we just look like Mr. Clean.''

First timer
Ashley Taws, an 18-year-old from Toronto, became the first female to win a pole in a professional Canadian racing event, taking the top spot Saturday for the Formula Ford race.

"It's a privilege to be the first, but I'm surprised there hasn't been a female do this in the past,'' she said.

Taws, who began racing go-karts at age 9, said her ultimate goal is CART or Formula One.

"Either one would be fine,'' she said.

Spark plugs
None of the last six pole-winners at Toronto have finished in the points (top 12). ... Michael Andretti's seven wins here are the most by any Champ car driver at a single venue. ... Michel Jourdain, the only driver who has finished in the top 10 in all seven races this season, has done it with consistency, leading the series with 1,069 of a possible 1,073 laps completed.