Penalised Jamie Green defends restart after new DTM system's debut

The DTM has adopted an IndyCar-style safety car protocol, with cars lining up side-by-side at 80km/h before the starting lights switch off and drivers return to race speeds.

The first use of the new restart came after the safety car was called out following a collision between Nico Muller and Robert Wickens that left the latter's Mercedes in the gravel.

Green then appeared to have pulled ahead of race leader Timo Glock at the line as the race restarted, leading to a five second stop/go penalty.

When asked about reports of illegal braking and accelerating on the straight before the restart, Green said: "I don't really know what they are talking about.

"We've been discussing how the rules should be for the front row and when the race starts, who decides when it starts and so on.

"My understanding is that the race starts when the lights go off and we also had the race director on the radio saying 'green' when the race starts.

"I reacted to that and that meant that I crossed the line before Timo did and it seems like everyone did because Gary [Paffett] overtook before Turn 1."

WATCH: GLOCK LOSES OUT ON RESTART

Green's penalty did not cost him victory because he built enough of a margin before his pitstop to emerge with a comfortable lead.

The Audi driver then managed his advantage on the run to the finish, leading home Mercedes driver Gary Paffett in a British one-two.

Green said Glock was to blame for the confusion at the start.

"I don't know quite what he was doing, to be honest," he said.

"I was trying to keep at basically the same speed as Timo. As far as I understood it, he's dictating the speed and the pace and I just tried to stay close to him.

"The idea is that we are very close together in the middle of the circuit and that was all that I was trying to do."

Green is now tied with Paffett for second in the standings on 26 points, 14 behind race one winner Lucas Auer.