Marcus Ericsson claimed stronger driving standards are needed in IndyCar after roughly half of Sunday’s race was raced under caution.
Eight consecutive caution periods were needed, all for collisions on the Detroit street track which was hosting the series for the second race. Several incidents quickly after restarts as cars collided, with the turn three hairpin being a significant issue location.
Ericsson finished second behind Scott Dixon after 53 green flags laps in a 100-lap race. He was unimpressed with what he saw. “I think people are driving reckless on the restarts,” he remarked. “Obviously there’s opportunities on restarts. I don’t know if we need to look at how we steward these kind of races because I think today more than 50% on yellow.
“I’m sure it was dramatic and fun to watch but at some point also we need to have a bit of a better standard. We’re one of the top racing series in the world. We shouldn’t be driving on top of each other every single restart.
Will Power, Penske, Detroit, IndyCar, 2024
Power was pulled out at the start
“Obviously I haven’t seen the race, I was just driving it. I saw in my mirrors every time on the restart, four, five-wide. I was simply praying not to be hit pretty much every restart.”
The Andretti driver, who is in his sixth season in the championship, feels stronger penalties for collisions may be needed. “I did watch the Indy 500 [after retiring on the first lap], that was pretty crazy as well. I suppose we were lucky there wasn’t more incidents there because some of the driving there was also on the limit. Let’s put it that way.
“Again, we’re some of the best drivers in the world here racing. We shouldn’t be experiencing occurrences like today.”
“I think I’ve done my fair share, as well,” he said. “I do mistakes as well. I’m not going to put the finger on everyone else. I don’t stop myself, as well. But I think as a series, we can definitely improve.”
Romain Grosjean, Christian Lundgaard, Detroit, IndyCar, 2024
Lundgaard hit Grosjean at one restart
Dixon believes the harder tyres the series is employing this year contributed to the number of incidents observed in Detroit. The more durable rubber was built for the hybrid power units the series is adopting later this year, which were originally meant to be used from the opening round before being postponed until Mid-Ohio next month.
“Anticipating the hybrid, the tyre was pretty hard here,” commented Dixon. “Very hard to turn the black tyres on, front tyres makes it easy to lock.
“Colder conditions than last year too, that probably definitely played a factor, as well.”
However Dixon disputed the quantity of crashes constituted an embarrassment for the series. “I don’t think it’s ever embarrassing,” he remarked. “I think you do a survey, most people go to races to watch crashes. I don’t.
“I know when I watch some kind of NASCAR race, they have a similar kind of effect. It’s definitely exciting. Obviously you don’t want to see the caution laps and them take over.”
Marcus Armstrong, who finished third, acknowledged the tougher tyres contributed to several of the incidents on the low-grip surface. “It’s very slippery,” he said. “For whatever reasons the tyres this season have been very robust. You can’t actually generate [heat].
Helio Castroneves, Kyffin Simpson, Will Power, Detroit, IndyCar, 2024
Castroneves spun and was collected by Simpson
“Even towards the end of the stint it’s not like they’re in the right window. I think a lot of the mistakes are partly caused by the fact that the tyre is not operating early in the run, especially when they’re cold. “I realise I’ve removed some margin. If you brake where you think you should brake, occasionally you just drive straight through someone. I’m sure that’s happened, as well.
“I’m sure mistakes today also were not by the intention of the driver trying to lunge everyone, but because he didn’t have the grip to stop. I’d say that is one thing.
“Marcus is right, a lot of the moves today were very ambitious. Honestly, the braking distances are rather long. I think that’s extremely inviting. Yeah, perhaps it’s needs a bit of a rethink.”
