IndyCar defines pit boxes, adds rule after controversy

Curt Cavin | USA TODAY Sports

BALTIMORE — IndyCar has reacted to last week's controversial race in Sonoma, Calif., by defining pit boxes and adding a rule about crew member etiquette.

Boundaries have been set for all competitors. Drivers who enter the yellow-marked zones of others risk penalty. Crew members have had responsibilities clarified, too.

New for this weekend's Grand Prix of Baltimore is rule 7.9.17 that says anyone deemed to have created "a hazard or disruption" to the event may be penalized.

That's a direct result of Will Power's outside tire changer, Travis Law, contributing to last week's pit road accident with Scott Dixon by hanging the tire on his left hip. Dixon, the race leader, hit the tire and was, by rule, penalized.

IndyCar officials all but admitted to series teams Friday that the punishment could have gone either way — and that's the point of new diagonal markings in the outside corners of each pit box.

These markings create a neutral zone. If something happens in that space, race control will issue punishment as it sees fit.

"In other words, it could go either way," reigning series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay said.

Asked how to avoid putting the call in the hands of officials, Hunter-Reay said: "Don't go in there."

The lines not only were the topic of conversation Friday, they were part of practice. Eric Cowdin, the engineer of Tony Kanaan's car, walked to where outside rear tire changer Kyle Sagan works to see how much room he'll have.

Most crew members on pit road did the same.

Dixon chose to avoid the discussion, saying the lines "don't mean anything." His strategist, Mike Hull, said they actually do.

"They mean respect your neighbor, which is what they've always meant on this pit lane," he said. "They also make it easier for race control to (officiate)."

Part of last week's emotion stemmed from the lack of visual clarity. Was Dixon in Team Penske's pit box? Was Law where he was supposed to be? The solid yellow lines will help show those things in the future.

The lines aren't new to the sport, just mandated by IndyCar for the first time. The diagonal lines were once a staple in CART.

Championship leader Helio Castroneves, who raced in CART through 2001, said he asked IndyCar to provide them. He said the angle degree could be debated — they're 45 degrees — "but at least there's a line."

"It gives some reference," the Brazilian said. "People can see them."

Former CART champion Jimmy Vasser remains adamant that Dixon shouldn't have been penalized.

"In my opinion, that was a good example of a non-call," he said.

Vasser said IndyCar had to change the rule or risk a team sending "a kamikaze out there (to) run into a car and give someone a penalty that could affect the championship outcome."

Team Penske has not allowed Law to give his side of the story.

"I can't say that he did it on purpose," said Vasser, who has been involved in this sport since 1992. "My personal opinion is, he could have waited (to walk). He could have stood there (as) Power left and Dixon wouldn't have hit him, and then he could have gone back to his position."

IndyCar did not issue a penalty or a fine to Team Penske, but it might in the future.

IndyCar also amended its rule regarding display of the blue flag, which calls for a driver to give consideration to an approaching car attempting to overtake. Failing to yield within one lap will draw a penalty.

Vautier quickest

With several drivers bouncing off the tire barriers positioned to slow speeds on the long straightaway, Friday's speed chart had a different look. The fastest three drivers were rookie Tristan Vautier, Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden. The top five were Honda drivers. Qualifying is at noon Saturday.

Cavin writes for the Indianapolis Star.