INDYCAR Eliminates Push-to-Pass Monitoring

In an effort to promote more overtaking at Verizon IndyCar Series road- and street-course races, INDYCAR announced it will no longer display entrants' push-to-pass counts and usage via indicators in its timing and scoring software.

Until now, teams were able to monitor all Verizon IndyCar Series competitors' push-to-pass (P2P) count and when they are being used via the INDYCAR timing and scoring system available in each pit box.

"Unfortunately, the information given to the teams on the push-to-pass function has tended to be used as a defensing measure," said Derrick Walker, INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations. "The driver being overtaken activates his or her own P2P to defend, which defeats the intention of P2P, obviously. We will limit the availability of that information, which will make things interesting, particularly late in the race."

The change begins with Sunday's Honda Indy Toronto and remains in effect at the remaining road-course events on the 2015 schedule – the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and season-ending GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway.

Each car will still receive its full allotment of push-to-pass opportunities that produce approximately an added 50 horsepower per use to promote passing other cars at strategic points in a race. For the Honda Indy Toronto, the push-to-pass count remains at 10 opportunities for each car in the race, with each engagement lasting 20 seconds.

The push-to-pass parameters are controlled by each car's engine electronics and are preset to the count, time per use and reset time between uses prior to each race. INDYCAR officials retain the ability to monitor each car's push-to-pass functions in Race Control.