INDYCAR: Bernard Outlines Oval Restart Procedure

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Bernard Outlines Oval Restart Procedure

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard tells SPEED.com: “We want to make sure to do it in a way our fans approve.”

Robin Miller | Posted January 20, 2011 Indianapolis, IN

IndyCar's new oval restart process will should have a familiar look to it. (LAT)

When IndyCar announced it was going to adopt two-abreast restarts on ovals this season, the main concern was that lapped cars would be mixed in with the leaders.

But, after some of its drivers and teams voiced their opinion, it now appears that IndyCar will copy NASCAR’s playbook to the letter.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard is going to suggest to his senior management team that the lapped cars should be placed behind the leaders and also have the lead cars pit first under caution.

“I said the other day that we need partners and the drivers and owners are our partners so we’re listening. We want to do what’s in the best interest of the series,” said Bernard.

“I don’t think our drivers realized how many fans wanted this two-abreast restart and we want to make sure to do it in a way our fans approve.”

Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske, the two dominant car owners in IndyCar who also field teams in NASCAR, first approached Bernard about trying to breathe some life into a series with 9-year-old cars by going to the same restarts used by stock cars.

But, during last week’s press conference on the rules changes for 2011, it was announced that the cars would be lined up for the restart in the order they appeared on the track on the last lap prior to the yellow flag – rather than the official scoring order.

“That’s what a lot of us were upset about, not the double-file restarts, but the fact that you could have Milka Duno on the front row with the leader of the race,” said Tony Kanaan, the unofficial king of the restart.

“That’s not only crazy, it’s confusing to the fans, especially the ones who may be seeing their first race and wonder what is going on.”

Mike Hull, managing director for Target/Ganassi Racing, e-mailed his concerns to competition VP Brian Barnhart, as did Tim Cindric, the president of Penske Performance, and Panther Racing owner John Barnes.

“We simply told Brian that the owners supported the double-file restarts but in the meeting in November we had agreed to follow the NASCAR model,” said Hull.

“And that was lead cars at the front with lapped cars behind them. We also wanted to see the lead cars pit first when the pits are opened under a caution, with the lapped cars coming in on the next lap.

“This would help with the formation and reduce the congestion in pit lane.”

The tentative plan was to just use the two-abreast on ovals so the Indy 500 would be the guinea pig but Cindric agrees with two-time champ Scott Dixon and Hull: use it all the time.

“Let’s do it all season everywhere and get it right,” said Cindric.

“Most of us don’t feel that Indianapolis should be the first time we try it, with the 100th year anniversary and that big market.

“And there’s no reason not to do it on the road courses and street circuits either. Let’s do what is best for the fans.”

Kanaan, who received more than 200,000 posts from his followers on Twitter applauding the decision to restart two-wide, is happy that Bernard is listening to his congregation.

“Randy has done a lot of good things already and I know he wants us to put on the best show possible,” said the 2004 IndyCar champion who spoke to Bernard several times this week. “But I was concerned, for the fans, about the confusion if we didn’t go with NASCAR’s rules.

“As an IndyCar fan, I think double-wide restarts are great, the most positive thing we’ve done in a long time. I love the idea, I live for restarts.”