INDYCAR: Hull questions lack of penalty

IndyCar's new race official crew came under fire by Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull after race control chose to give Simon Pagenaud a warning for a blend line violation rather than issuing a penalty.

The Team Penske driver was shown placing all four wheels over the yellow blend line after making his final pit stop, and with the contentious move, he was able to pull out in front of Hull's driver, race leader Scott Dixon, and hold the defending series champion at bay to claim his first win for Penske.

Race Control, through Rule 7.10.1.1, had four options to use in reaction to Pagenaud's move: no action required, a warning, moving Pagenaud's No. 22 Chevy to the back of the field or a trip to pit lane for a drive-through or stop-and-go.

According to Hull, the verbal understanding between IndyCar teams and race control led him to believe an actual penalty would be assessed with Pagenaud.

"What we talked about all last year, with the system that was employed, with all the warnings that were given, is it set precedent for the next one, and our impression was there wouldn't be warnings," Hull told RACER. "We know they have the right to give warnings, but the impression we were left with was if you went against something that was specifically pointed out, it would be more than a warning."

With the new stewarding trio of Dan Davis, Max Papis and Arie Luyendyk (race director Brian Barnhardt does not have a vote) facing and possibly failing their first stress test, Hull questions whether adhering to blend lines will follow the Long Beach model going forward.

"So that's now set a precedent," he said. "So what do we do now when we go to Barber and somebody drives all four wheels over the [exit blend] line? Is that OK? If anybody does it, I wouldn't expect a penalty."

Hull wouldn't say he believed Dixon should have won, but he came close.

"Here's the deal," he added. "There was a lot of quality at the front of the race. Whoever won, whatever the case, there was a lot of quality there and it deserves to be rewarded."

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