Graphic: Backfire Racing.
Watch an IndyCar race closely and you’ll notice drivers glancing at a dashboard readout that has nothing to do with fuel or tyre temperature. It’s tracking something almost as important: how many seconds of push-to-pass they have left.
What Push-to-Pass Actually Does
Push-to-pass gives drivers a temporary horsepower boost, activated by a button on the steering wheel, that increases turbocharger boost pressure for a limited amount of time per race. On road and street courses, drivers typically get around 200 to 300 seconds to use across the entire race, spent in bursts during overtaking attempts or defensive moves.
A Resource, Not Just a Button
Because push-to-pass is limited, using it becomes a strategic decision rather than a reflex. Burn through your allotment too early defending a position in the first half of the race, and you may have nothing left when a real overtaking opportunity appears late on. Championship battles like the one detailed in our look at the tight points fight behind this year’s IndyCar title often hinge on exactly this kind of resource management as much as raw speed.
Oval Races Play by Different Rules
On superspeedways and short ovals, push-to-pass usage is often restricted further, or governed by different rules entirely, since the speeds involved make an unexpected horsepower spike considerably more dangerous in traffic. Race control monitors usage telemetry to ensure teams aren’t exceeding their allocation, and any violation typically results in a penalty applied after the fact.
Why It Matters for Fans
For viewers, push-to-pass adds a layer of strategy that plays out in real time. A driver who appears to fall back mid-race may simply be conserving their boost for a coordinated attack in the closing laps, turning what looks like a lull into one of the most tactical periods of the race.
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