IndyCar Series news
Push-to-pass button added to cars
29 July 2009This weekend's round of the championship at the Kentucky Speedway will be the first to feature a new push-to-pass button on cars' steering wheels. Incorporated into all cars, the boost option will allow drivers to achieve anything from an extra five to twenty horsepower at the touch of a button.
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With drivers having voiced their concerns over a distinct lack of overtaking this year, championship organisers Indy Racing League (IRL) have been involved in talks with engine supplier Honda in order to introduce such a device. With the button easily accessibly on each car's steering wheel, the specific added amount of extra power will vary in accordance with fuel mixtures being used; essentially, the greater the saving on fuel, the greater the boost effect.
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| Graham Rahal is confident that the new boost is only a good thing |
During races, 20 power boosts of a 12-second duration will be available to the drivers with electronics allowing no more than this to be used over the course of one race. After each deployment of the extra power, a 'recharge blackout' of 10 seconds will prevent constant use of the new device, an extra feature focussed particularly on later stages of races.
"You wouldn't think so, but 5 horsepower is a pretty big deal, even on these ovals," NHL driver Graham Rahal explained to the IndyStar. "Every little 'hp' is going to help you; it will improve the racing because people forget that it's not only something that's used for overtaking, it's also for defending - it can be interesting. There's no doubt in my mind it's a good thing."
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