Changes Ahead of 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix
The NTT IndyCar Series returns home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for this weekend’s 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix. Ahead of the action, the series has unveiled some big rule changes following a review of the Push-to-Pass (P2P) software failure at Long Beach last month.
Indycar announced Tuesday that P2P will now be available for use on race restarts at all road and street circuit events. This new rule takes effect on Saturday’s race at IMS. The expanded P2P availability is a big shift in strategy options for teams and drivers after cautions and safety cars.
“The Push to Pass software failure at the Streets of Long Beach allowed IndyCar an opportunity to fully review the rules of the system and consider improvements, including leaving Push to Pass available on restarts,” IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. “Push to Pass is a driver and team enhancement, which has evolved since its introduction in 2009, and working with stakeholders, we believe it’s time for this additional update.”
The change has already sparked debate among competitors. Graham Rahal, P10 in the championship standings, expressed dislike about the new rule on Tuesday. “I’m not a fan,” Rahal stated bluntly. Rahal suggests that at tracks like the IMS road course and Road America, the strategic element may be diminished as all drivers would save their P2P allotment for restarts.
Long Beach Review Findings
IndyCar Officiating also released its findings from the April 19 software glitch. The malfunction allowed P2P to remain available during a full-course yellow and subsequent restart. The investigation revealed that simultaneous Controller Area Network (CAN) messages were mistakenly sent from IndyCar software to receivers on multiple cars.
The system failure analysis showed that 12 cars used P2P on the Lap 62 restart. The usage varied, with drivers ranging from 8.0 to 27.0 seconds. Notably, IndyCar officials determined that no position changes took place due to the error. Car No. 66 passed car No. 14, but both cars used similar amounts of P2P on that lap.
All cars that competed at Long Beach were deemed to be legal and compliant with the rules. As such, no changes were made to the official race results. “Rule 14.19.16 placed the burden of the Push to Pass system on the series to assure that the software performed properly,” the official statement read.
Corrections and New Responsibilities
Starting with this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix, IndyCar will implement corrected code that includes a mechanism around certain events. The hope will be to ensure only “one-at-a-time messaging” to prevent simultaneous signals. The updated code underwent initial testing at the recent Indy 500 Open Test last month with no errors.
Additionally, IndyCar has rewritten the P2P rules to place responsibility on competitors. Teams now must ensure the system is only used when allowed. “IndyCar Officiating believes the rule update better serves the point of the rule while also simplifying the interpretation for all competitors,” the announcement said. An additional software engineer and enhanced monitoring systems will oversee CAN messaging moving forward.
Championship Picture and Sonsio GP Weekend
The 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix arrives at a key moment in the 2026 title fight. Alex Palou leads the standings with 205 points after five rounds. He has a 17 point advantage over Kyle Kirkwood. David Malukas is 63 points adrift in P3. Palou has continued his 2025 domination early in 2026 with three wins, one pole, and four Top 5 finishes.
Penske’s Josef Newgarden sits P6 with 130 points. Seven time champ Scott Dixon is further back in P8 with 120 points. Looking to the rookies, Dennis Hauger leads them in P16 with 76 points. Caio Collet is P22 and Mick Schumacher sits P24 as the weekend gets underway.
The IMS road course has historically been a strong venue for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Graham Rahal has earned 15 Top 10 finishes in 17 starts on the circuit. The condense two-day format features practice and qualifying on Friday, with the race scheduled for 4:30 PM ET on Saturday.
With 25 cars entered, including title contenders and IMS road course rookies, the 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix promises to serve as a test for the new P2P regulations. Not to be forgotten, this call comes ahead of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 later this month.
Feature Image: Aaron Skillman | Penske Entertainment