An exceptional amount of passing took place throughout the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season. From road courses to ovals of three different sizes to street circuits, 43 drivers combined to amass 5842 passes across 17 races. Ovals accounted for the largest portion of the passes, 64 percent in total, which speaks to the thrills delivered at the Indianapolis 500, World Wide Technology Raceway, the Milwaukee Mile, and the Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Speedway.
Santino Ferrucci: The Passmaster
IndyCar accumulated a lot of passing data last year, including total passes and passes for position. The data in the first category for total passes, which include those made when a driver is down one or more laps, is led by A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, who had a breakout season in the No. 14 Chevy on the way to placing ninth in the Drivers’ championship and earned the distinction of being IndyCar’s ‘Passmaster’ for 2024.
Ferrucci completed more passes (335) than any other driver, and having been passed 155 times, he also has the best net rating for overtakes (180). Second on the list is Colton Herta, who also had a breakout year with two victories and a surge to second in the championship, his best to date, with the No. 26 Honda. Herta’s passes (315) were countered with being passed 146 times for a net (169) that also ranked second to Ferrucci.
The Art of Passing
An important factor to consider in the passing totals was how drivers fared in qualifying. Ferrucci’s average starting position was 14.8, which meant he had plenty of positions to make up at most races. Herta’s average starting spot was 8.6, aided by three poles, which points to a need to overcome in-race issues more often than desired. For McLaughlin, the best qualifier of the season with five poles and an average start of 6.4, it was a blend of extreme passing to counteract misfortunes and all of the passing performed as the season’s best driver in the laps-led category with 637.
While Herta and McLaughlin were among the leaders in total passes, the new champ was not, ranking ninth, which can be attributed to an average starting position of 8.4 and an average finish of 6.5. Palou actually trails teammates Scott Dixon and Romain Grosjean in total passes, which speaks to his generally good performances in qualifying and staying up front at most races, eliminating the need to rifle through the field on a regular basis.
Behind the Numbers
In the category of passes for position, Ferrucci once again leads all drivers in net rating and the total passes for position, followed by VeeKay and Herta in the top three spots. Champion Alex Palou was 13th in this category, showing his ability to stay in the lead pack without needing to make as many passes.
Ferrucci’s Reflection
Reflecting on his title as the Passmaster, Ferrucci expressed mixed feelings. While proud of his ability to make passes, he acknowledges that he wants to be more consistently upfront in future seasons. Ferrucci’s confidence shines through as he discusses his passing skills and the joy he finds in forcing errors on other drivers during races.
“It’s a bittersweet award, to say the least. I think it is a testament to my ability and skill and racecraft, but also I think that I can do better in other areas,” Ferrucci shared. Despite his success in passing, he aims to improve in other aspects of racing to secure higher positions in future championships.
With a blend of humility and determination, Ferrucci’s journey as the Passmaster showcases his talent and ambition on the IndyCar circuit.
