Brian Barnhart returns as IndyCar race director

Brian Barnhart has returned to the role of IndyCar Series race director, the league confirmed Wednesday.

Barnhart will manage the operations of the event and serve as one of the three stewards officiating each race. He served as one of those stewards last season, too.

Barnhart, who was chief steward from 1997-2011, was moved out of the job after a series of controversial incidents, including the decision to restart a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the rain. That's when Will Power, whose car was collected in the ensuing crash, directed an obscene gesture at race control.

Beaux Barfield was race director the past three years, but he left to take a similar position with the Tudor United SportsCar Championship.

IndyCar's drivers were informed of the leadership change Wednesday during meetings at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IndyCar's officiating system, implemented last year, allows any one of the three race stewards to call for a review of an incident. Each then votes on the incident and if a penalty is deemed necessary, the senior steward as determined by IndyCar president Derrick Walker prior to the race, dictates the severity of the penalty based on pre-described options.

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