IndyCar series plans three-wide starts at Pocono, Fontana

Looking to pump up excitement for its remaining two “triple crown” races this year, the Izod IndyCar Series said it would use three-wide starts for the contests at Pocono and Fontana.

The race at the 2.5-mile Pocono (Pa.) Raceway is Sunday; the race at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Oct. 19 is the series’ season finale.

IndyCar typically uses two-wide starts, except at the Indianapolis 500, where three-wide starts are a tradition.

The practice of having three-wide rows of cars coming to the green flag can be thrilling as the drivers accelerate and try to squeeze through the first turn without colliding.

This year, the races at Indy, Pocono and Fontana are part of a reinstated triple-crown promotion that awards $1 million to a driver who can win all three events in a single season.

Tony Kanaan won this year’s Indy 500 in May, so he’s the driver hoping to collect the bonus if he can win the other two events.

IndyCar noted that it used three-wide starts when it previously had a triple-crown contest in the 1970s and ‘80s.

At that time, the three tracks involved were the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono and the defunct Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway.

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