INDYCAR announced today that Brian Barnhart, Vice President of Competition, has been named Race Director for 2015. The three-steward Race Control system implemented in 2014, in which all in-race penalties must be approved by 2/3 vote of the three stewards officiating at each event, will remain in place and will be one of the areas of responsibility overseen by Barnhart.
Under INDYCAR’s Race Control system, any of the three stewards overseeing an event can call for a review of an on-track incident. Stewards utilize multiple camera angles, replays, and timing and scoring information to review incidents and after deliberation, vote for or against issuing a penalty. A majority vote is needed to issue a penalty. The senior steward then has discretion on the severity of the penalty issued.
In addition to overseeing the Race Control staff, Barnhart will also be responsible for overseeing the rulebook, the Holmatro Safety Team and medical personnel, security, ad INDYCAR Timing and Scoring.
“We believe that based on his extensive experience in Race Control, combined with the three-steward system, Brian Barnhart is a good fit as INDYCAR Race Director,” said Derrick Walker, INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations. “In terms of determining penalties our process defines that a majority vote amongst the three stewards is required, which ensures a jury-like process. Last year we found that this was a fair system when making difficult judgment calls.”
Barnhart previously served as Race Director for INDYCAR from 1997 to 2011 and was a Race Control steward throughout the 2014 season.
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