Range Selection: Park

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Mariner and 2008 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

With the range selector in PARK:

the parking pawl locks the output shaft to the case.
the engine may be started.
the ignition key can be removed.
the ignition switch can be cycled from OFF to START or RUN.