Montoya ‘could be a giant fan of push to move’ at Indy
After getting up to the mark on Friday’s second day of the Open Check at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Juan Pablo Montoya weighed in on the present aero configuration of the vehicles and the concept of including a push to move energy enhance to bolster overtaking. The Colombian — a two-time Indy 500 winner in simply 5 profession begins within the 500 — provided a opposite opinion to the consensus that emerged amongst drivers following final month’s push to move check at Indy.
“I felt OK,” Montoya stated of his Friday runs in his No. 86 Arrow McLaren SP Chevy, which put him third quickest behind Josef Newgarden and reigning Indy champ Takuma Sato. “I did move (a) few vehicles and every thing. I might transfer, I might change; I felt fairly respectable at elements.
“The factor is, keep in mind, each run you do, you modify one thing. You don’t hold the identical automotive. You’re all the time making an attempt to enhance the sensation, enhance the automotive to perhaps be extra constant in clear air, extra constant within the draft, issues like that.
“As you undergo these issues, there’s some runs that you simply go on the market, you’re simply in the best way, and also you hate it. I stated like thrice right this moment, ‘Hell, I’m not doing this.’ Really the phrase wasn’t ‘hell’ however I’m utilizing the well mannered phrase. I stated, ‘I’m not doing this’ and I bailed.
“One among them truly bailed and actually scared the hell out of me in (Turns) 3 and 4. I lifted and I didn’t even do Flip 1. I went within the deceleration lane. ‘I’m not doing this.’
“It’s a disgrace, I imply… some folks tried the push to move (on the earlier check). However it could make racing fairly extra wild, I believe. I do know some folks don’t need wild.”
Newgarden says this 12 months’s aero configuration makes it simpler to comply with different vehicles however admitted, “it’s nonetheless powerful.” Motorsports Photos
Friday pacesetter Newgarden, who was amongst these not in favor of including push to move at Indy after the sooner check, felt that the aero package deal developed following testing at Indy final November ought to enhance the present on race day.
“It’s simpler to comply with. It’s nonetheless powerful,” stated the Group Penske driver. “You’ll nonetheless get a giant entrance wash in visitors. Ten vehicles again, it’s all the time going to be tough. However I believe they’ve made the power to comply with higher. That stability separation between clear air and soiled air is unquestionably diminished.
“I believe you could have a greater alternative this 12 months trying on the quantity of downforce we’ve got, the stability shift out and in of visitors. I believe you could have a greater alternative to battle for the win within the third or fourth automotive in line.
“Greater than that, (if) you in some way end up within the again, I believe you could have a greater alternative of constructing your means ahead. These two components will robotically assist the present. However you don’t need to have it really easy the place we’re packed up all the discipline all the time. I believe that’s one thing that you’d need to keep away from.
“It’s a balancing act. I believe it will likely be quite a bit higher than final 12 months so far as the power to race up entrance. Time will inform. However I believe you’ll have a greater present.
Montoya felt this 12 months’s configuration to be slightly completely different than he remembered, however nonetheless longed for extra energy.
“They’re slightly tougher to drive — I believe the distinction between clear air and soiled air is slightly larger,” he stated. “I believe the modifications IndyCar did, from what everyone says, it’s slightly tougher than earlier than, however not that unhealthy, put it that means.
“After working right this moment, I’d be a giant fan of that push to move, to be sincere.”
