Due to space issues at the 1.7-mile, layout in the shadow of the General Motors Renaissance Centre that replaces the old Belle Isle venue on the calendar for 2023, the pitboxes have been split in two.
Half of the cars are serviced on either side, following a pitlane entry to driver’s right before Turn 9 that funnels the field in and then splits them in two. A blue line down the middle of the dual lanes acts as the median.
Arrow McLaren’s Felix Rosenqvist felt this is the most tricky part of the process, as cars leave the track and enter the unique divided pitlane.
“When the sessions started, there were quite a lot of cars coming in, four-wide, into how do you say the funneling section?” he said.
“It's kind of unique in that way because you have the pit speed limit off section is way further, like after the funnel.
“We're going to have to figure out who's going first in there. I think there's going to be some situations where people probably don't want to lift.”
When asked if he thought it might prove pivotal in Sunday’s race, Rosenqvist replied: “I mean, that's kind of what IndyCar is, that we battle it out on track.
“I think that's pretty cool. Yeah, let's hope it doesn't crash us in pit lane.”
Source: Autosport