IndyCar Drops Pit-Window Rule in Full-Course Yellows After 170mph Rossi Safety Row
Updated
Updated · Autosport · Jun 1
IndyCar Drops Pit-Window Rule in Full-Course Yellows After 170mph Rossi Safety Row
2 articles · Updated · Autosport · Jun 1
IndyCar Officiating said effective immediately it will stop weighing pit windows and running order before calling a full-course caution, a shift made after criticism that safety decisions were delayed.
170mph traffic around Alex Rossi’s stranded car at Indianapolis triggered the change: officials initially held to a local yellow after his hybrid failure near the start-finish line, prompting anger that competitive factors overrode safety.
Raj Nair said removing those factors should speed caution calls, part of a credibility rebuild that also includes the three-member Independent Officiating Board and new managing director Scott Elkins.
Detroit became the first road-course test of the policy, and the quicker yellow hurt Kyle Kirkwood’s strategy after a lap-64 stop, reviving debate over whether officials are now too quick to neutralize races.
The controversy landed as Alex Palou won again—his 12th victory in 25 races since 2025—to stretch his 2026 points lead to 62 heading into Illinois.
Is IndyCar's new 'safety-first' policy sacrificing exciting racing for overly cautious officiating?
Can IndyCar's new leadership fix its officiating and technology crises to restore credibility with fans?
With driver backlash and constant failures, is Honda's mandatory hybrid system helping or hurting IndyCar?