Joe Skibinski/IMS Photo
Self-starting IndyCar hybrids coming to pit lane
The NTT IndyCar Series will allow its drivers to use the self-starting functionality offered by its hybrid powertrains for the first time on pit lane once the new season gets under way on Feb.28 at St. Petersburg.
The change comes after IndyCar introduced its spec energy recovery systems last summer at Mid-Ohio, and as part of the new hybrid regulations, self-starting was only permitted trackside in the event of a stall at road and street courses. Numerous stalls were rectified by drivers, thus saving the need for caution periods to allow the AMR Safety Team to attend to the cars and pause the practice, qualifying, or racing activities in motion.
Self-starting on pit lane was banned as the series wanted to give teams a chance to grow accustomed with using and interacting with the hybrid machines during the second half of the season before entertaining the possibility of allowing drivers to use the motor generator units (MGU) to fire their internal combustion engines and depart the pits.
As a result, teams used the familiar process of having a dedicated crew member connect a battery-powered external starter through a splined shaft connected to the back of the Xtrac gearboxes and ignite the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 motors made by Chevrolet and Honda. Under the new option permitted by the series, teams can continue to manually start their motors or instruct their drivers to do so from the cockpit.
A single penalty was assessed last season for illegal self-starting on pit lane, which came when Andretti Global’s Colton Herta stalled his No. 26 Honda and used the MGU to depart on his own volition before his crew could plug in and perform their duty. The time-saving move was neutralized when IndyCar ordered Herta to “Yield 1 Track Position” to pay for the infraction.
One disallowed starting function has been retained from 2024. Due to the heightened danger of a stalled driver attempting to rejoin the action on an oval, IndyCar will dispatch the AMR Safety Team to manage the restarting process at every oval.
Marshall Pruett
The 2026 season marks Marshall Pruett's 40th year working in the sport. In his role today for RACER, Pruett covers open-wheel and sports car racing as a writer, reporter, photographer, and filmmaker. In his previous career, he served as a mechanic, engineer, and team manager in a variety of series, including IndyCar, IMSA, and World Challenge.
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