
IndyCar has revised its full course yellow guidelines following Alexander Rossi's incident at the Sonsio Grand Prix. The new rules will no longer consider pit windows or running orders when deciding on caution deployments.
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IndyCar changes full course yellow guidelines after Alexander Rossi incident at Sonsio Grand Prix
IndyCar Officiating has again made a post-race rule change following a controversial ruling during a race. IndyCar Officiating will no longer take pit windows and the running orders of cars into consideration when deciding whether to deploy a full-course yellow on cautions.
The ruling is a reaction to Saturday's Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Ed Carpenter Racing's Alexander Rossi's No. 20 Chevrolet stalled at the start-finish line due to a hybrid failure. As Rossi sat in his powerless car on Lap 21, IndyCar race control decided to only deploy a local yellow while keeping the rest of the IMS road course hot. When Rossi exited the car and hopped over the pit lane wall, race control was forced to escalate it to a full-course caution.
"The fact that it took that long to throw a full-course yellow, when a car's on the front straight and people are going by at 170 miles an hour, also seems insane, when they don't let us drive in the wet yesterday," Rossi said on Fox. "So, I don't really know where the priorities lie. So pretty frustrated."
Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
IndyCar will no longer consider pit windows and the running orders of cars when deciding whether to deploy a full-course yellow.
The rule change was prompted by Alexander Rossi's car stalling at the start-finish line during the Sonsio Grand Prix.
Rossi expressed frustration over the delay in deploying a full-course yellow while his car was on the front straight, questioning the priorities of race control.
The incident occurred on Lap 21 of the Sonsio Grand Prix when Rossi's No. 20 Chevrolet stalled due to a hybrid failure.


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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Juncos Hollinger Racing driver Rinus Veekay (76) drives a damaged car after contact on the first lap Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Smoke rises from the cars of Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) looks up at the flyover Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) walks pit road Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard (7) stands on the grid Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) talks with team owner Chip Ganassi on Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward (5) prepares to get in his car Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske driver David Malukas (12) stands on the grid Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Santino Ferrucci (14) talks on the grid Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Mick Schumacher (47) prepares to get in his car Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) looks up at the flyover Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A KC-135 Stratotanker flies over the track Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Juncos Hollinger Racing driver Rinus Veekay (76) drives a damaged car after contact on the first lap Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Smoke rises from the cars of Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) looks up at the flyover Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) walks pit road Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard (7) stands on the grid Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) talks with team owner Chip Ganassi on Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward (5) prepares to get in his car Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Team Penske driver David Malukas (12) stands on the grid Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Santino Ferrucci (14) talks on the grid Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Mick Schumacher (47) prepares to get in his car Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) looks up at the flyover Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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A KC-135 Stratotanker flies over the track Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Cars spin and collide as they enter the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Crews tend to Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) and A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) in the first turn Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In the past, IndyCar has hesitated to deploy cautions that would cause a major re-racking of positions or hinder those who were saving fuel as they waited longer to pit than others. The rule change will no longer take those factors into consideration, instead weighing "driver status, vehicle position and condition, the location and readiness of safety personnel, recovery access, and the speeddifferential between affected cars and approaching traffic."
During Rossi's incident on Saturday, two of the race's leaders, Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood, had not yet pitted and their pit stands experienced confusion on whether the pits were open during the local caution. Kirkwood told IndyStar that his timing stand went by the Fox broadcast, which initially flashed a full-course yellow, indicating that the pits were closed. Palou, the pole winner and overwhelming race favorite, finished fifth while Kirkwood finished ninth. Christian Lundgaard took victory lane for the first time since 2023.
IndyCar is in the first year of IndyCar Officiating and its Independent Officiating Board (IOB), which was created after Team Penske failed post-qualifying technical inspections at the Indianapolis 500, while Andretti Global and Prema Racing failed post-race inspections. Raj Nair (chairman), Ray Evernham (secretary and treasurer) and Ronan Morgan (FIA appointee) were hired by the board in December, and managing director of officiating (MDO) Scott Elkins was hired in April, with Monday being his first day on the job.
"The Lap 21 incident on Saturday made clear that there needs to be a cleaner standard for how race control moves from a local to a full course yellow,β Nair said in a news release. βIndyCar Officiating, with IndyCar's full support, has made this change of approach to ensure that the only inputs to the full course yellow escalation are safety ones. Streamlining the assessment will also save time as competitive considerations are no longer a factor."
"The most important job in race control is to ensure the safety of our drivers, crews, safety workers and fans," IndyCar president Doug Boles said. "Saturday highlighted that we must not waver from that central mission and aligning everyone on that philosophy was critical to discuss over the last 48 hours. The Independent Officiating Board, the new managing director of officiating, race director and IndyCar are all in agreement and the metrics used to determine when to initiate a full course yellow will now ensure that when there is any risk to driver safety that race control will initiate a full course yellow."
The IOB also made a change after April's Grand Prix of Long Beach, where 12 drivers were found to have illegally used push to pass, which gives cars a 60 horsepower boost, on a restart. Ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix, IndyCar Officiating announced that drivers could now use push to pass on restarts once their cars crossed the alternate start-finish line. It was also determined that drivers now hold the responsibility for using push to pass at permitted moments.
The push to pass rule change and controversy surrounding whether the illegal usage in Long Beach twice became a topic at news conferences last week, first in a debate between Palou, Kirkwood and Pato O'Ward on Thursday, then again on Saturday between Palou and O'Ward on Saturday after the two drivers won the two spots on the front row of the Sonsio Grand Prix. There was no reported illegal usage of push to pass this weekend.
With the Indy 500 12 days away, IndyCar Officiating continues to tweak its standards and guidelines midseason.
Zion Brownis IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him atΒ @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox withour Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCarfor a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar changes full course yellow guidelines after Alexander Rossi incident at Sonsio Grand Prix