Photo Credit; Chris Owens/IndyCar
This year’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach had the closest finish for any race on the streets of Long Beach, but it wasn’t with a conversational call surrounding eventual race winner Simon Pagenaud, driver of the No. 22 Team Penske PPG Automotive Refinish Chevrolet. The decision ultimately allowed Pagenaud to keep the lead over Scott Dixon, driver of the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chevrolet, in the final laps.
On the final pit stop of the race for Pagenaud, as he left pit road and was blending back on to the race track, he went over the yellow line that you must stay on on the right-side of as you leave pit road to get into the corner quicker, ultimately grabbing an edge over Dixon and he was able to take the lead for the race.
“It was an inch on the race track there, so I am good,” said Pagenaud. “I have no idea what it showed on TV but it showed I was an inch on the right side of the dots, so it was okay.”
INDYCAR race-control reviewed the move and ultimately issued an warning to the Frenchman about his actions. He would go on to win the race while Dixon finished in the second position.
“No, I actually didn’t know,” said Pagenaud. “Nobody mentioned it. Kyle didn’t tell me on the radio. I just focused on the job. I really honestly didn’t know it was that close. I wouldn’t have changed anything honestly. We’re talking– to make it like an easy call to say it’s no penalty or no warning, would have been so much more. So it just made it great for TV and for you to understand, but actually IndyCar has made it really clear this year what you can and cannot do, and it was clearly on the verge of being a stronger penalty, but I did get a warning. I only did it once in the race.”
The decision didn’t sit over well with the Chip Ganassi Racing camp, as they felt he should’ve gotten a penalty.
“I think there should’ve been a penalty,” said Mike Hull, Chip Ganassi Racing. “I mean, the TV shows it. I think it clearly showed all the viewers that he didn’t stay in the yellow line. They said in the driver’s meeting that it’d be a penalty, so it shouldn’t be a warning or leading the race.”
Ultimately, this call had a hand in deciding the race as Pagenaud took the lead when this infraction happen and went on to win the race.
“I really haven’t seen the replay too much but from what I am told, he was definitely over with all four tires, which is a drive through or some sort of penalty to give the spot back,” said Dixon. “I don’t know what has happen with the no warnings anymore.
“Apparently the 22 car got a warning for that opposed to getting a penalty.”
The New Zealander went on to say that it was distinctly stated that there would be a penalty rather than a warning in the driver’s meetings.
“I think if you look at the PDF, it’s even in the PDF view that everybody gets, and I believe in the first one on Friday, it was asked several times about that,” he said. “By all means any time you could not put more than two wheels over the line, and that was my understanding. I thought we were done with warnings and all this sort of wish wash stuff and we we’re going to stick to hard rules, but that wasn’t the case today.”
Despite being involved in the conflict surrounding the call, Dixon still called it a great day as he felt his Chip Ganassi Racing team did a good job.
“But obviously good points for the championship but ultimately we would have been liking to walk away with the stop spot here,” he added
IndyCar released a statement on the decision that they did made, while attempting to clear up Dixon’s confusion on the warning.
“Simon Pagenaud’s actions during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach were deemed an infraction per Rule 7.10.1.1. “Lane Usage” of the INDYCAR Penalty Guidelines:,” the statement from series official reads. “Failing to follow designated procedures entering or exiting the pit area, including the proper use of the acceleration and deceleration lanes. The penalty for this infraction ranges from a warning (minimum), putting the driver to the back of the field (mid) and drive-through or stop and go/hold(maximum). INDYCAR race stewards determined his actions were not deemed severe enough to warrant a harsher penalty than the warning that was issued.”
Next up on the schedule is the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on April 24th.
