The newly revised Push-to-Pass rules in the NTT IndyCar Series have sparked a debate among drivers, with questions about clarity and the potential for abuse.
Maybe it’s getting worse, this NTT IndyCar Series debate about the newly revised Push-to-Pass rules. Following qualifying Saturday morning for the afternoon’s Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a reporter asked Alex Palou—pole sitter, points leader, and winner at three of the year’s first five races—and No. 2 starter Pato O’Ward, “Gentlemen, since Thursday’s press conference, have you all had a little more clarity on the push-to-pass rule?
”Plainly, the answer is no. Here’s how Saturday’s debate unfolded, after a chaotic Friday confab:PATO O'WARD: I mean, I think they clarified what action is going to get taken in case it is, like, happy pushed, but I don’t think there’s really a scenario where it can be anymore, because it’s probably just going to be on all the time. So, yeah, I can’t wait for the scenario where it’s, like, oh, someone had Push-to-Pass in the start, but who knows .
THE MODERATOR: It would be pretty rare for sure, right? PALOU: Yeah, I mean, I still—O’WARD: It’s going to be today . PALOU: No, no, I mean, that would be good for me, so I can tuck behind him and just get towed up. No, it’s clear now, but you were saying it’s a rule.
You know you—O’WARD: The problem was it wasn’t a rule. PALOU: Correct, but you were saying it was the rule. O’WARD: Yeah, I think it was more a gentlemen’s agreement of like—PALOU: What? O’WARD: Yeah.
PALOU: Like, come on, you knew. O’WARD: What do I knew? PALOU: That it was not enabled. Not that you cannot use it—O’WARD: Yeah, oh, it’s not enabled.
Okay, that’s it, end of the story. Gentlemen’s agreement. PALOU: No, no, but you knew, you knew that we can only use it—O’WARD: No.PALOU: No, no, I knew that it was not enabled, end of the story. If it’s enabled because someone else does a mistake—O’WARD: No, no, no, the reason why people didn’t get penalized is because the screw-up was—PALOU: So there was no rule?
O’WARD: No, you went into the gray area, and you got away with it. PALOU: Gray area? O’WARD: Yeah. PALOU: What did the rule say?
It’s not going to enable on restart. O’WARD: The problem was the rule didn’t say anything. PALOU: So it’s no gray area. O’WARD: Yes.
PALOU: How? O’WARD: Because at the end of the day, at the end of the day, the same action that Josef got crucified for—PALOU: It was not Josef’s fault. It’s the team’s fault. If the team is cheating, it’s not because of the driver.
O’WARD: What do you mean? PALOU: Josef, the drivers, did nothing wrong. O’WARD: If you know you’re using it when no one else is using it—PALOU: I always press it. O’WARD: What?
PALOU: That’s how it’s found. Yes. O’WARD: Why? In case it works? PALOU: Yes. O’WARD: Maybe that’s why I’m not winning races .
Indycar Series Push-To-Pass Rules Clarity Abuse Gentlemen's Agreement
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A rule change is causing confusion among IndyCar drivers as season restarts at Indianapolis GPIndyCar officials announced a modification to the series’ push-to-pass rule this week, trying to create more excitement in Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix
Read more »
IndyCar’s New Push-to-Pass Rules Already Causing ChaosNew boost-button usage rules that start this weekend apparently are unclear; discussion turns into unintended comedy shtick,
Read more »
Persistent Rain Postpones IndyCar Qualifying for Sonsio GPAnother Fittipaldi, 24-year-old Enzo, records Indianapolis victory in Indy NXT.
Read more »
Alexander Rossi Exits Car onto Hot Track After INDYCAR Delayed Throwing a Full Course CautionAlexander Rossi left his Ed Carpenter Racing Honda hot under the collar following a hybrid failure and a flag thrown late in the Grand Prix at IMS.
Read more »