IndyCar has officially updated its push-to-pass rules following a controversial incident at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, giving drivers more freedom to use the horsepower boost during restarts. The change comes after a chaotic sequence on Lap 61 of the race, where multiple drivers activated the system—despite it being prohibited at the time—sparking debate across the paddock.

Under the new regulation, drivers can now use push to pass on restarts as long as the green flag has been waved and they have crossed the alternate start-finish line. This marks a significant shift from the previous rule, which banned the use of the turbocharger boost—which adds roughly 60 extra horsepower—during restarts entirely.

The catalyst for the change was an investigation by IndyCar Officiating, the independent body formed after last year's Indianapolis 500 controversies. Their review revealed that 12 drivers used push to pass on the Lap 61 restart at Long Beach. Among them, Marcus Armstrong used the boost to pass Santino Ferrucci, though no penalty was issued since both drivers were using it. Ferrucci later admitted to the confusion, saying, "When Armstrong passed me, I was a little bit confused on how he got such a good run. I tried it and saw it worked, so I used it to defend. We were laughing that we were the only two that got called out—we didn't even use it the most that lap."

The list of drivers who activated push to pass on that restart also includes Scott McLaughlin, Nolan Siegel, Kyffin Simpson, Alex Palou, David Malukas, Graham Rahal, Romain Grosjean, Louis Foster, Felix Rosenqvist, and Rinus VeeKay. Notably, Rosenqvist used it for 18.5 seconds and Palou for 15.1 seconds as they battled for the lead. Palou, who took the top spot after a pit stop on the restart, went on to secure his third win of the season.

With the rule change, IndyCar Officiating—which recently appointed Scott Elkins as the incoming managing director of the Independent Officiating Board—has shifted the responsibility to drivers to ensure they use push to pass only at permitted times. This update aims to prevent future confusion and keep the racing clean, while still allowing for the thrilling passing opportunities that push to pass provides. For fans and drivers alike, it's a welcome adjustment that brings more clarity and excitement to every restart.