IndyCar opens up Push to Pass usage

The IndyCar Series has removed its long-running restrictions on when its Push to Pass (P2P) system can be used on road and street course races.

Starting with this Saturday’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis road course, drivers will be allowed to use P2P and deploy the extra 60hp at will “once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed,” according to the new rule.

The change comes after IndyCar’s P2P system malfunctioned at the most recent race in Long Beach where a software failure triggered the unintended activation of the system on a restart. Despite the previous rule prohibiting the use of P2P on starts/restarts, IndyCar Officiating found 12 of the 25 drivers were pressing the P2P button in the hope of gaining the 60hp advantage if a glitch with the system occurred – and it did – which allowed the widespread and illegal usage of the added power during the lap.

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IndyCar officiating chose to take no action on penalizing the 12 drivers – including race winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing and second-place finisher Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing – and has gone in the opposite direction moving forward by enabling P2P during the opening lap of each road and street course race and any restarts that follow.

Although the restart restrictions have been removed, no changes have been made to the limits of how much time drivers are permitted to use P2P in each race, or the maximum duration of their P2P bursts.

“The Push to Pass software failure at the streets of Long Beach allowed IndyCar an opportunity to fully review the rules of the system and consider any improvements, including leaving Push to Pass available on restarts,” said IndyCar President Doug Boles. “Push to Pass is a driver and team enhancement, which has evolved since its introduction in 2009, and – working with stakeholders – we believe it’s time for this additional update.

“While maybe ironic on how we transitioned to this procedural revision, we look forward to seeing how this new opportunity to use Push to Pass will enhance strategy and the potential for even more wheel-to-wheel action.”