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Kirkwood: “More durable” tires hindering passing on street circuits in 2024
The first two rounds of the season, including a non-points exhibition, have seen no on-track passes for the lead. In the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Josef Newgarden led most laps and won with no lead changes during the race.
At the recent non-points event at The Thermal Club, Alex Palou led every lap in a follow-the-leader style race to victory. The lack of tire wear is a significant factor in the current low passing on track, as stated by defending race winner Kyle Kirkwood.
The new tires designed for the upcoming hybrid engine have proven to be durable, making it difficult to execute passes solely based on pace. Kirkwood acknowledges the challenge of passing with the current tire situation.
Future races may see a similar trend of less passing until the new hybrid system is introduced, shifting the focus towards outright pace rather than strategic passing maneuvers. Kirkwood believes the current tire dynamics will continue to impact the racing dynamics.
