At the NTT IndyCar Series race from Mid-Ohio, there was one driver who made many of his competitors angry over the course of the event.
Benjamin Pedersen, a rookie driving for AJ Foyt Racing, was seen fighting tooth and nail against every driver that came up in his mirrors, even when he was a lap down and leaders were coming past.
The eventual race winner Alex Palou was held up for multiple laps by Pedersen, who was defending as hard as he could to stay on the lead lap.
Once he was lapped, other drivers were held up by the 24-year-old as well, causing some angry messages to be sent over the radio regarding the tactic, and more discussion after the race was over.
“I think that the blue flag rule, it’s crazy,” said Will Power after the race. “You use push-to-pass up and have to race somebody that’s going to be a lap down like you’re racing for position.
“The series is so tight and competitive, and everyone is so good now that I think we could have a [more strict] blue flag rule. It’s not like we have yellows constantly, and you’re going to get your lap back.
“Maybe they do it in the second half of the race, but it’s ridiculous when a leader gives up 10 seconds. I mean, I think you [Scott Dixon] were five seconds down the road, and I closed it right up. I probably would have overtaken you if I didn’t get held up on going a couple of laps longer.
“I think that’s actually the problem is it takes a lot of people to police that because if there’s a blue flag rule and the first guy passes and then you’ve got to have a command blue for everyone.
“I think that’s the thing. It becomes a bit difficult, but we’re at the stage where this competition is so tough maybe we have to add some people [in race control] to do that.”
IndyCar does wave blue flags at slower drivers, but there is not a mandate for them to move over and allow the faster cars to pass.
A general drivers’ agreement typically keeps those a lap down from slowing up the leading cars too much.
With Pedersen being a rookie, he will likely get some direction and coaching from the other drivers on how he should change his driving style when at the back of the field.
But after affecting so many drivers’ races this past weekend, he has likely used up any free passes he had for quite some time.
Pedersen finished in 26th position on Sunday, one lap down and the last car that was still running.
