INDYCAR drivers on giving, receiving the middle finger: Like saying 'I love you'

Admit the sin. As a driver, most people have probably done it. Or at least thought about it.

While driving along, someone else pulls a questionable move in traffic. For some reason, it triggers the other driver. And the reaction is the "you’re No. 1" sign using the middle finger.

Now, just imagine this happening around at 200 miles an hour. The rage and the reaction? Instantaneous. 

So in that spirit of a moment of reactionary rage, we asked the INDYCAR drivers how many middle fingers they would receive and if they are more likely to deliver or receive during the season. 

Most drivers played along. And, not surprisingly, Will Power was at the top of the list.

"It depends if we're counting Will Power, and that's going up to like the 50s, 60s," defending series champion Alex Palou said with a smile. "If we're not counting Will Power, maybe 10 to 15."

And he wasn’t the only one:

David Malukas: "From all drivers or just Power?"

Sting Ray Robb: "At least two if Will Power is involved."

For the record, we didn’t see any clear flip-offs during the opener a couple of weeks ago in St. Petersburg. But drivers have 16 events remaining on the schedule to get angry with each other, and they get back to racing on March 23 at The Thermal Club.

Drivers' responses to the middle-finger question varied from philosophical to an analysis of the situation. 

Nolan Siegel: "I think you’re doing something wrong if you don’t get at least two."

Kyle Kirkwood He just gives people a thumbs up: "You can’t get in trouble for a thumbs up. But it’s very offensive."

Callum Ilott: "[I’ll get] two. But that could be from two individual drivers or from one individual driver with two hands."

Conor Daly: "Honestly, if I'm getting middle fingers from Will