IndyCar has confirmed that the Team Penske cars of Will Power and Josef Newgarden will be demoted to the final row ahead of Sunday’s Indy 500.
A nightmare final qualifying day for Team Penske at Indianapolis on Sunday got worse on Monday, when IndyCar demoted its three cars to the final row.
Scott McLaughlin crashed heavily during the final practice session ahead of qualifying. The damage was extensive enough to prevent him from competing in the Fast 12.
However, more misfortune would befall Will Power and Josef Newgarden. Both of their cars failed the pre-qualifying technical inspection due to discrepancies with their attenuators. They were subsequently withdrawn from the remainder of qualifying.
On Monday, IndyCar announced that Power and Newgarden would start the race from the final row. INDYCAR President J.Douglas Boles explained the decision in a statement.
“The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear.
“The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance.
Boles explained that McLaughlin is exempt from this punishment as his car met all legal requirements.
“Car No. 3 did not attempt to qualify Sunday in the Top 12 because of an accident in the earlier afternoon’s practice.
“Upon review of the car, and INDYCAR impounding the No. 3 attenuator, INDYCAR found that the car was in fact using a legal and unmodified attenuator.
Therefore, car No. 3 will start in the 10th spot – the final spot of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12.“
Decision taken in light of ‘positive momentum’ around Indycar
Bowles also explained that the decision to demote Power and Newgarden was made to keep the series fair for all competitors.
“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field.”
“As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.”
The decision goes beyond just a grid penalty, as the engineers involved in the incident are suspended for the remainder of the Indy 500.
IndyCar statement
Yesterday, INDYCAR’s focus was ensuring that the series had all the facts related to the discovery of the modified attenuators on the Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 to verify they were in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16.
After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by rule, the violating cars were placed in the lastpositions of the qualifying session for which they qualified.
Upon further review last night and early this morning, INDYCAR will be moving cars No. 2 and 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday.
Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, both cars will forfeit Indianapolis 500qualification points and each entry has been fined $100,000.Car Nos. 2 and 12 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after theremainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.“
