IndyCar Relegates Newgarden, Power to Back of Indy 500 Starting Grid After Team Penske Technical Violations

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief

The saga surrounding Team Penske’s technical violations has taken another turn as INDYCAR has now handed out penalties ahead of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

Yesterday, the No. 2 and 12 Chevrolet-powered entries of reigning back-to-back Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden and teammate Will Power were pulled off pit lane and unable to participate in qualifying for the Fast 12 after being found manipulating the attenuator. The No. 3 entry driven by Scott McLaughlin, last year’s pole-sitter, was not a participant after crashing in Sunday’s practice session.

Following a further investigation, INDYCAR announced on Monday morning the No. 2 and No. 12 entries were in violation of Rule 14.7.8.16. Both entries have now been relegated from their slots in Row 4 to the back of the grid in positions 32nd and 33rd, respectively. They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday.

“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.”

Although McLaughlin’s entry did not participate in the Fast 12, a review of the machine – and the series impounding the entry’s attenuator – found the car and part in question was legal and unmodified. Therefore, car No. 3 will start in the 10th spot – the final spot of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12.

Furthermore, the team strategists for entries driven by Newgarden and Power are suspended for the remainder of the Indy 500, with both cars also forfeiting qualification points. Each entry has also been fined $100,000. Both cars will also forfeit their respective pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.

“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 said. “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.”