Photo Credit: Formula 1
Following debate from the fans about the final caution at the series, the series has now offered an explanation.
Brian Barnhart, INDYCAR vice president of competition, clarified for fans the reason for the late caution that ended the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix last weekend.
“We always do what we can to ensure our events conclude under green conditions,” he said “But safety is INDYCAR’s number one priority and this was a situation where we had no choice but to throw a yellow.”
Many fans believed that the caution that was brought out on Lap 248 that ended the race with the yellow and checked flags being waved was due to debris that had been sitting on the track. Notably, a piece of debris had been laying on the frontstretch since Lap 240 when Ryan Hunter-Reay brushed the wall exiting Turn 4.
However, the caution was flown as a result of an incident involving the No. 98 Andretti Herta Autosport Honda driven by Alexander Rossi. The rookie had made contact with the wall in Turn 4 right in front of the race leaders, which was not shown on the televised broadcast on NBCSN. The broadcasters felt was not major due to focusing on the front runners with it being near the end of the race.
“The caution at the end of the Phoenix race was the result of the 98 car making contact with the wall coming off the fourth turn,” he said. “The incident occurred in front of the leaders and required cars to take evasive action, which made throwing the caution flag imperative.”
The next scheduled event on for IndyCar is April 17th when they go to Long Beach.
