Following Sunday’s revelation that Team Penske had illegally modified the attenuator on two of its cars leading up to qualifying, IndyCar has levied heavy penalties on the team.
The most consequential sporting penalty is that Josef Newgarden and Will Power will be moved to the back row of the grid for the Indy 500.
Both drivers’ cars had the modified parts installed, and the series has determined that their initial qualifying runs on Saturday were likely affected as well.
Instead of starting on the fourth row, the #2 and #12 entries will start in the 32nd and 33rd starting positions respectively.
Both cars forfeit the qualifying points they would have been awarded for the Top 12 qualifying effort, and each entry has been fined $100,000.
In addition, team strategists for both cars have been suspended for the remainder of the Indy 500 event.
Motorsportweek.com understands that the modification consisted of an application of a bodywork repair substance to the side of the attenuator, which blended the seam between the part and the rest of the chassis.
The intention was to smooth out a seam between the parts for aerodynamic purposes. The attenuator is not allowed to be modified in any way, however, thus resulting in the penalties.
“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,” IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles said.
“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.”
Not the first time
The penalty is the second high profile scandal for the team in the past year, as the team was caught with illegal software installed on their cars for the 2024 season-opener at St. Pete.
The team was stripped of their wins and levied fines in that instance, and also had team managers suspended.
“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,” Boles continued.
“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 #3 entry of Scott McLaughlin was found to be in compliance and did not have a modified part installed, therefore will be allowed to keep his 10th starting position.
Mersin Emlak