[MikeNoun]

IndyCars start 3-wide at the Indy 500 because it's tradition. And even with that, everyone holds their breath. There have been several major accidents when the green flag drops (1973 being the worst). It's not because the drivers are less experienced drivers, it's more the fact they have less experience doing a 100 mph flying restart, something only done once a year, and 2-wide is just asking for problems. The cars just accelerate too fast, and at some tracks, the slightest misstep means disaster. In IndyCar, if the car in front doesn't move fast enough on a restart, the driver behind has a lane to swerve out and continue, and the car behind that car can swerve and continue too. It's just open wheel racing precautions, that's all. The human brain, and reflexes, can only react so fast. There's no bump drafting or fenders to bang on in an IndyCar or F1 restart, and if tires touch, cars fly. When someone checks up at Las Vegas in a NASCAR race, there's a wreck, and cars are bent up. When someone checks up at Las Vegas in an IndyCar race, people die.

These drivers grew up driving a certain way, and it's very hard to retrain themselves to drive something else. It's like when Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever, tried to play baseball. With all his skills, he couldn't hit a curve ball.