INDIANAPOLIS, May 19, 2023 - The narrow and flat Indianapolis Motor Speedway has demonstrated its uniqueness during recent race simulations in this week's practice sessions. In this context, it appears that the balance is leaning towards lower resistance over better handling, leading racers to form a dynamic similar to a 'DRS train' in Formula 1, where cars line up end-to-end behind the leaders.
"The aerodynamic bits seem to have done nothing for the races," racer O'Ward told NBC Peacock. "Obviously, it's not an ideal situation when you're in 10th or 11th place in a group, or even when you're the sixth or the seventh, you can't do anything."
The first two cars in the race seem to be the only ones capable of overtaking, and perhaps a third car could join this privileged group. However, beyond that, the race appears to become a simple matter of following the leader.
"The guys up front are being towed, so you can't chase them as you would the leading car," O'Ward added. This situation leads to a frustrating dynamic for those with solid or even superior vehicles, who find themselves trapped in this 'train' dynamic and unable to capitalize on their potential.
"I would have loved to have seen just a step in this direction, because if you have a solid car, or even the best car, if you're stuck in a train, it doesn't matter, you can't do anything. We haven't seen any changes since 2021 and 2022," O'Ward concluded, highlighting the desire of many racers for changes that would allow for a more open and competitive competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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