Santino Ferrucci believes IndyCar should reconsider its schedule after raising concerns about crew burnout following the demanding Indianapolis 500 stretch.
The AJ Foyt Enterprises driver questioned whether teams are being pushed too hard by the rapid turnaround between the Indianapolis 500 and this weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix.
After securing his eighth consecutive Indy 500 top ten finish, Ferrucci admitted the current schedule has become especially difficult for smaller teams trying to rebuild and transport cars immediately after the biggest race of the season.
Santino Ferrucci says IndyCar crews are being pushed too hard
The current IndyCar calendar leaves teams with almost no recovery time after a gruelling three-week run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway which includes the Sonsio Grand Prix, Indy 500 qualifying and the Indianapolis 500 itself.
Speaking during an IndyCar media call on Wednesday, Ferrucci admitted even preparing to leave Indianapolis had become exhausting.
“I feel like I’ve been packing my bus for the last two days, so… quite entertaining. I’ve almost got it there. Yeah, I wish we had the week off, but we continue on into Detroit.”
The 27-year-old later expanded on those comments while discussing the workload currently facing mechanics and crew members throughout the IndyCar paddock.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Ferrucci explained why the current schedule is particularly difficult for smaller operations like AJ Foyt Enterprises.
“Yeah, not necessarily for me, it’s tough to go into the shop and see the crew that have been turning cars around, turn around cars to go to Detroit, when you’re having 4 a.m. starts non-stop,” Ferrucci said.
The comments highlighted the relentless schedule many IndyCar mechanics face throughout May while teams operate on extended hours during practice, qualifying and race preparation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ferrucci also acknowledged IndyCar’s desire to maintain momentum after the Indianapolis 500, but warned that constant travel and overnight rebuilds risk exhausting personnel behind the scenes.
“Yeah, I get that you want to ride the momentum as a series, but you also don’t want to burn out your people that bring the cars to the track.”
“Being a smaller team, I think it’s a little bit more difficult for us to instantly turn these things around.”
AJ Foyt Enterprises driver understands IndyCar’s momentum strategy
Ferrucci made it clear he personally does not mind the demanding schedule, even if he believes crew members deserve more recovery time following Indianapolis.
The American driver is remaining on the road through the upcoming stretch of races, including the visit to World Wide Technology Raceway after Detroit.
“No, I get the idea of the momentum. For me it doesn’t matter. I’m up in Indianapolis until post St. Louis. I’m with the bus and the dogs. My wife flies in and out. Yeah, a little different schedule.”
Ferrucci’s comments arrived after another strong Indianapolis 500 result for AJ Foyt Enterprises, with the 27-year-old securing eighth place and extending his remarkable streak of top ten finishes in the event.
However, his biggest concern after leaving Indianapolis was not his own workload, but the pressure currently facing IndyCar crews trying to keep pace with one of the busiest stretches on the calendar.
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