IRL Unveils "Push to Pass" System
Racingone.com
Indy Racing League teams will be able to get a boost of power when the new "push to pass" system makes its debut Saturday at the Kentucky Speedway.
Honda Performance Development will introduce brief bursts of additional horsepower and 200 rpms (to 10,500 total) available to drivers through a button on the steering wheel - commonly referred to as push to pass - for the remainder of the season (four ovals, two road courses).
A 5-20 horsepower gain will be realized dependant on fuel setting for intervals calibrated on a race-by-race basis, according to HPD Race Team Manager Roger Griffiths. For Kentucky, drivers will have 20 presses for a duration of 12 seconds each available. HPD will update teams before each race weekend regarding parameters.
"If you're on the rich side, you get 5 horsepower because the engine already is producing close to its maximum, where you can get up to 20 horsepower if you're running lean," Indy Racing League senior technical director Les Mactaggart said. "It's to provide the driver, if they're already making a passing maneuver, an additional tool to complete the pass. It provides the teams options which they have to choose how they're going to run the race so it brings more strategy from a team aspect."
Should really help the racing I think especially on the ovals where racing has been horrible this year due to little or no passing.