One Last Look at the Month of May
Before the calendar turns to June, I’d like to take one last look at the Month of May. I had planned for this to be just a few more photos from the month; but I do feel the need to address something that has popped up since Josef Newgarden took the checkered flag Sunday.
There are a lot of wannabe race-officials and rulebook experts that have their own spin on the move that Josef Newgarden and subsequently Marcus Ericsson made on the last lap spring to the checkered flag. We all saw it Sunday when Newgarden ducked inside the lines marking the entrance to pit lane. The so-called experts on social media are claiming that this is an illegal move and that both drivers should be penalized. They even go so far as to say that no driver shall leave the racing surface, and in their mind – what they did was leave the racing surface.
First of all, neither car left the racing surface. Both of those lines, the solid and the dotted line, are merely advisory. They are there as a safety precaution for a driver to judge when and where to enter pit lane safely. They do not separate any part of “the racing surface”.
Second of all, according to Newgarden in the post-race press conference that I heard with my own ears, and other drivers that do not drive for Team Penske; this matter was covered in the driver’s meeting – not the public ceremonial driver’s meeting that takes place on Saturday morning, but the actual one that takes place on Sunday morning. Race Control said that the “dragon” move would be allowed this year and that crossing those exact lines that fans are complaining about would not be a penalty.
Even Newgarden said he does not like that move being legal, but if Race Control was going to allow it – he would take advantage of it. As far as I’m concerned, that should be the end of the discussion, because there is no controversy. It was a legal move and he did it. But those on social media think they know more. I was so irritated by this, I was moved to borrow a meme from the late Eric Schwarzkop’s Facebook page…
Now we’ll move on to more pleasant topics, like some last photos from the Month of May. I didn’t include any from the Grand Prix – just Indianapolis 500 Practice, Qualifying Weekend and Race Weekend. There is a candid shot that a reader posted on Twitter of me and Susan walking through the garage area on Race Morning, and a couple of shots I took on Monday – the day after the race. I think most of the others are self-explanatory.
Again, thanks to everyone who followed along here all through the Month of May. I hope you enjoyed it half as much as we did.
Susan & George Phillips
Oilpressure 
May 31, 2023 at 6:27 am
Thank you for all of your great coverage throughout the month of May George, the next best thing to being there myself.
May 31, 2023 at 7:40 am
I wouldn’t be too hard on those questioning this. Especially if the drivers were only told on Sunday morning. This does make me curious. Would that have been a legal move in last years race?
May 31, 2023 at 8:30 am
I expect it would have been legal in last year’s race as Ericsson made essentially the same move then, if not quite as close to the inside as Newgarden did this year. Palou and Pagenaud also moved at least part of their cars below where the dashed line is now in 2021 and 2019 respectively when making similar moves.
I expect the drivers have understood the dragon move as being legal ever since Will Power held off a charging Newgarden with an early version of it at Pocono in 2017. And even then, Paul Tracy reacted on the broadcast as if it was the same kind of move drivers had been pulling at Indianapolis for decades.
May 31, 2023 at 8:31 am
Great coverage this month George and Susan, and great photos.
The countdown to the next 500 begins again!
May 31, 2023 at 10:52 am
George thanks for clearing that up. Also the second red flag benefited Markeson ,cause Newgarden was leading. The third red flag was while Markers on was leading so that was Newgarden s way . Just the way it went people are trying to tarnish the win. I think they are full #$%^&.
May 31, 2023 at 3:34 pm
I would have a last lap rule that no driver can have either of their left hands wheels over the diagonal left to right line. That would greatly reduce the swerving away from the end of pit lane protector. As a first idea to be refined.
May 31, 2023 at 8:23 pm
Thanks for clearing that up.
Still I don’t like the Dragon Move.
I really don’t like multiple red flags at the end of the race.
Maybe next year we’ll see a cleaner race..:.
June 1, 2023 at 8:09 am
Everyone hates the snaking “dragon” move but as long as legal then there is no reason to complain. While social media has allowed us to connect in so many wonderful ways it has also allowed the idiots to connect and form idiot groups that feed off each other. While they can be annoying I usually just murmur to myself and move on.
June 2, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Thank you for the coverage from trackside. It’s been good to see you both.
Maybe, race control should consider the dotted pitlane entry line as track limits next year because swerving left and right creates a risk to get awfully close to the pitlane attenuator.
The performance of the Foyt team was really impressive this year with both drivers. I’m happy for them and wish them all the best.
The cheer that the winner Newgarden is going to get from the crowd in Nashville is something to look forward to. He drove a great race.
So did P2 and P3 and you cannot really blame them for being somewhat miffed at missing out on the milk and the trophy.
There were so many serious contenders this year, this field is really full of talent.
That is nowhere as evident as in the relatively small number of crashes that occured. Might the smallest number of crashes be a record for 2023?
Get well soon Stefan Wilson.