The push-to-pass feature used in the Verizon IndyCar Series has received a bump in horsepower for the 2016 season, the racing series has announced.
Push-to-pass is activated through a button on the steering wheel and for a brief period allows the 2.2-liter Chevrolet/Ilmor V6’s twin-turbochargers to produce additional boost pressure in order to make passing easier. Last year the function increased boost pressure from 150 kPa to 160 kPa, however with the bump for 2016, it will produce 165 kPa.
“The Verizon IndyCar Series already boasts some of the most exciting racing anywhere,” said IndyCar President of Competition and Operations Jay Frye. “This technological update is part of IndyCar’s ongoing initiative to enhance the overall level of competition and excitement even more. Increasing the available push-to-pass horsepower will make the system more robust and lead to additional overtaking opportunities on road and street circuits.”
The increase in boost pressure will result in 60 added horsepower when the push-to-pass button is used, an increase of 20 horsepower over last year’s push-to-pass setting. The number of push-to-pass activations that can be used in one race has stayed the same, as has the duration of the function’s effect.
The change in push-to-pass boost pressure is one of many changes made to the 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 Chevy and Honda engines for 2016. Others include new cylinder head ports and combustion chamber, fuel injectors, camshafts, pistons and connecting rods.
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