Josef Newgarden is the latest driver to be handed a six-place grid penalty for this week’s IndyCar race at the Indianapolis road course.
Just like Alex Palou’s penalty last weekend, the drop in position is due to unapproved engine changes by the team.
Newgarden was one of a few drivers that found the wall during qualifying for the street course in Nashville, smacking both the front and rear of the car into the concrete barriers.
It is unknown if damage done to his car during that incident led to the penalty this weekend, but the impact was the type that could easily cause problems with the drivetrain.
The 2019 series champion currently sits fourth in the points, and the penalty will adversely affect his ambitions of gaining significant ground to Palou on the top of the standings.
When the series raced on the Indianapolis road course layout in May, Newgarden finished sixth after qualifying on the front row.
The Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix weekend gets underway in just a couple hours, with Saturday’s race taking place at 12:30 PM EDT.
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