IndyCar tweaks push-to-pass rules to spice up Indianapolis Grand Prix restarts
IndyCar officials have tweaked the push-to-pass rules for Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix. The change aims to add more excitement during restarts. Drivers will now have new options for when to use their extra power boost.
Alex Palou enters the weekend as the favourite after winning the last two races. The four-time series champion holds a 17-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood, who is looking to improve his road-course performance. The updated rule lets drivers activate push-to-pass on all restarts once the race begins. They can use it after crossing the alternate start-finish line in Turn 11 on the first lap. However, any early activation—even due to a malfunction—will result in a penalty.
Each driver still gets 200 seconds of green-flag boost time, adding around 60 horsepower when needed. Some may save their boost for restarts to prevent others from overtaking them.
Palou dominated Friday’s practice sessions, recording the fastest lap in both. His top speed reached 124.953 mph in the morning, followed by a best lap of 124.632 mph in the afternoon. The Spaniard has six straight top-five finishes at Indy and could become only the second driver to win the same Brickyard race four times in a row.
Kirkwood posted the second-fastest lap of the day at 124.443 mph. He continues working to strengthen his reputation on road courses. Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, will make his IndyCar debut in Saturday’s race. The rule change gives drivers a tactical choice on restarts, potentially shaking up the race. Palou’s strong practice times and recent wins make him the driver to beat. Fans will also watch Schumacher’s first appearance in the series as the green flag drops.
