Teams and drivers have been notified that providing the 25-car field is in correct two-abreast formation through Turn 11, the acceleration zone for the polesitter – Team Penske-Chevrolet’s Scott McLaughlin – at the start of the race will be the exit of Turn 12, onto the pit straight.
The idea is that the field will have stretched out by the time the cars arrive at the brake zone, and there won’t be the traditional aggressive four-into-two-won’t-go shambles at the notorious Turn 1 right-left-right chicane. Will Power, who will start alongside teammate McLaughlin on the front row, spelled out the issue earlier today explaining that it’s all too tempting for drivers to try and slice up the inside at Turn 1 to make places on those attempting to run the traditional racing line up to hard-braking for Turn 2.
