IndyCar officials have handed Christian Rasmussen a six-place grid penalty for this weekend’s race at Mid-Ohio.
The penalty stems from Ed Carpenter Racing changing Rasmussen’s Chevrolet engine following a team test at Iowa Speedway last week.
By changing the engine, the team went over the allocated amount for the season and will have to start down the order in Sunday’s race.
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. states that “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.”
Because the recent engine change was marked as unapproved, the #21 entry must take a grid penalty at the next event.
If the engine change had come ahead of an oval event, then Rasmussen would have had to start nine places further back than his qualifying position.
The 25-year-old earned his first career IndyCar podium finish earlier this season at World Wide Technology Raceway.
He sits 15th in the overall points standings and is only two places behind his more experienced team-mate Alexander Rossi.
Qualifying for this weekend’s Honda Indy 200 takes place Saturday at 2:30 PM eastern, with the race getting under way at 1:00 PM on Sunday.
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