The picturesque Laguna Seca raceway witnessed some high-octane drama as IndyCar drivers and Race Control found themselves at odds over restart procedures. In a race that had its fair share of twists and turns, it was the restarts that stole the spotlight.
A total of eight cautions punctuated the 95-lap race, with three of them triggered by crashes on restarts in the final corner of the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course. The restart zone was positioned between the exit of Turn 10 and the short run toward Turn 11, a segment that became congested when the green flag waved. This led to heart-pounding moments as drivers jostled for position, with some daring three-wide maneuvers in the final corner, creating nail-biting situations for everyone involved.
Team Penske’s Will Power, who found himself tangled up in the first restart crash on lap 37, didn’t mince words. “We’ve asked them [Race Control] to change it,” he exclaimed. “Can we just have it so you can’t pass out of the last corner?” Power’s frustration was evident, and he believed that a simple tweak to the restart rules could solve the chaos.
The restart madness didn’t end with Power’s incident. Race Control handed out a record 17 penalties during the race, with three of them related to avoidable contact during restarts in the final corner. Christian Lundgaard, who defied the odds to finish sixth, pointed out the glaring issue: inconsistency. “It’s just a lot of stupid stuff going on out there that I don’t really think they’re aware of,” Lundgaard remarked. “Some people get penalized for some things when other people do the exact same and don’t get penalized. It’s just super inconsistent.”
Lundgaard’s frustration extended to the inability to propose more efficient restart procedures. “Well, everything we propose to IndyCar just gets refused straight away,” he lamented. It seems like the drivers had plenty of ideas but felt unheard.
Marcus Ericsson, who finished 15th in his final race for Chip Ganassi Racing, also weighed in. “Our series goes green, and everyone is spread out in different parts of this racetrack,” he noted. He suggested adopting a system where overtaking is prohibited until the start/finish line, similar to some other racing series. Ericsson didn’t lay blame solely on Race Control but stressed the need for a discussion on what’s best for the series.
However, amidst the chaos, Scott Dixon provided a masterclass in restart strategy. When he assumed the race lead on lap 76, his clean restart technique minimized the bottleneck effect. As a result, there were no further issues, and Dixon cruised to victory.
In the end, the Laguna Seca race exposed the need for a serious discussion on restart procedures in IndyCar. With drivers frustrated by inconsistency and a desire for changes, it’s clear that the debate won’t fade away anytime soon. As the season unfolds, we’ll be keeping a close eye on how IndyCar addresses this burning issue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about restart chaos IndyCar Laguna Seca
What caused the chaos during restarts at the Laguna Seca race?
The chaos during restarts at the Laguna Seca race was primarily caused by the positioning of the restart zone, which was between the exit of Turn 10 and the short run toward Turn 11. This congested segment led to desperate lunges into the braking zone and three-wide racing, creating compromising situations for many drivers.
How did drivers react to the restart issues?
Drivers were vocal about their concerns regarding the restart issues. Will Power of Team Penske and Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing both expressed frustration and called for changes in the restart rules. They highlighted issues of inconsistency in penalties and felt that their proposals for improvements were not being heard.
Were there any penalties related to the restarts?
Yes, there were penalties related to the restarts. Race Control handed out a record 17 penalties during the race, and three of them were for avoidable contact during restarts in the final corner.
How did Scott Dixon manage to avoid restart chaos?
Scott Dixon, who eventually won the race, managed to avoid restart chaos by employing a clean restart technique. When he assumed the race lead, he spread the field more coming out of Turn 9, which minimized the bottleneck effect and ensured a smooth restart.
What suggestions were made to improve restart procedures?
Drivers suggested various improvements to restart procedures. Will Power proposed prohibiting passing until drivers were out of the final corner, while Marcus Ericsson mentioned adopting a system where overtaking is prohibited until the start/finish line, similar to some other racing series. However, they expressed frustration that their ideas were not being considered.
More about restart chaos IndyCar Laguna Seca
- Laguna Seca Raceway Official Website
- Team Penske Official Website
- Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Official Website
- Scott Dixon Profile on IndyCar Official Website
- IndyCar Official Website
4 comments
race was chaos, drivers mad, need change
Lagun Seca wild, drivers complain bout restarts
Penalties galore, drivers fed up, indyCar chaos!
Scott Dixon win, restart trick? need rule fix!