Particle simulations and analytic theory confirm the experimental observation of preferential ion acceleration and heating by an inductive electric fieldEdcin picket‐fence geometry. The ions which are unmagnetized over most of the current channel are freely accelerated by the inductive field; the magnetized electrons are tied to the field lines and do not run away as long as the bindingev×B/cforce is greater than the detrapping inductive forceeEdc. Consequently, most of the current is carried by the ions which are also Ohmically heated.