The fourth standing start of the Verizon IndyCar Series season will be conducted for the opening race of the Honda Indy Toronto on July 19.
It will be staged on the frontstretch (race direction clockwise) on the 1.7-mile, 11-turn circuit. Previous standing starts were conducted at Long Beach, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Houston. A 10-minute standing start practice on the racetrack will follow the afternoon session July 18 (2:40-2:50 p.m.).
Highlights of the standing start procedure from Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook:
Formation laps – The Honda safety car will start the two formation laps and drivers will follow single file in their starting order. The speed of the formation laps will be set by the safety car and no overtaking is allowed. If a car is unable to leave the pre-grid with the rest of the field, it may return to its starting position before the conclusion of the first formation lap.
Grid -- At the end of the formation laps, drivers will take their starting positions with the front wheels of the car remaining within its designated grid line.
A five-second signal will be given by illuminating one pair of red lights on the vertical light towers. A countdown to the start will illuminate a pair of red lights every second. After a random delay of between 1.2 and 3 seconds, the race is started by all the red lights being extinguished.
False Start -- A false start shall be declared when a car moves forward or is out of its assigned position during the light sequence.
Aborted Start – INDYCAR can declare an aborted start before the final row of red lights illuminating in the sequence. In the event of an aborted start, flashing yellows lights will be displayed along the top row of all columns and the countdown lights will freeze. An extra formation lap will be carried out after an aborted start is declared. Any competitor whose actions are determined to be the cause of an aborted start will restart from their pit box.
If the second attempt of a standing start results in an aborted start, a rolling start will be implemented. The scoring of the race will commence when the light sequence is complete.