IndyCar has announced that three drivers will receive grid penalties for this weekend’s race around the IMS road course.
The penalties are because each driver is using a fifth engine this year, one more than the approved number per season.
Helio Castroneves, David Malukas, and Jack Harvey are the drivers that will have to start the race on Saturday six positions lower than their qualifying positions.
Malukas in particular is in the penalty zone due to a strange engine fire last weekend at the Music City Grand Prix that saw him retire on lap 11.
The sophomore driver was forced to pull over immediately after the upright that holds his rear wing on failed due to the extreme heat from the engine fire.
The rule that was broken was 16.2.3.2 of the IndyCar rulebook, which reads as follows:
A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines.
Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.
If the penalty would have been applied at an oval event, each driver would have received a 12-place grid penalty instead of six.
Engine usage penalties are relatively common as the season wears on, but these are the first handed down in the 2023 season.
At least a couple more penalties will likely be issued in the final three races of the season.
