Many veterans of the IZOD IndyCar series have expressed their frustration at the on-track behaviour showed by the backmarkers in recent events and have said that those drivers must show each other more respect when being lapped.
Recent incidents have led to calls for the IRL to take a tougher stance on lapped traffic, and possibly to follow NASCAR's example of moving lapped cars out of the way at restarts.
Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti, frustrated by backmarkers as he tried to catch leader and teammate Scott Dixon in the closing stages at Kansas last weekend, said that IRL officials would have to start taking action if blocking continued.
"I think it's up to the series to keep them in position and police them.” says Franchitti.
“If they continue to drive like that, then you're going to have to get them out of the way.”
Tony Kanaan (Andretti Autosport) shared Franchitti's opinion and also believed that double-file restarts were not the answer, suggesting they would just cause more complicated yellows as the field was sorted into line.
Recent incidents have led to calls for the IRL to take a tougher stance on lapped traffic, and possibly to follow NASCAR's example of moving lapped cars out of the way at restarts.
Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti, frustrated by backmarkers as he tried to catch leader and teammate Scott Dixon in the closing stages at Kansas last weekend, said that IRL officials would have to start taking action if blocking continued.
"I think it's up to the series to keep them in position and police them.” says Franchitti.
“If they continue to drive like that, then you're going to have to get them out of the way.”
Tony Kanaan (Andretti Autosport) shared Franchitti's opinion and also believed that double-file restarts were not the answer, suggesting they would just cause more complicated yellows as the field was sorted into line.