IndyCar Sends Team Penske’s Newgarden And Power To Back Of Indy 500 Field For Technical Violations

IndyCar on Monday announced serious penalties for the Team Penske cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power after they had to skip Top 12 qualifying due to technical violations.

Both cars were found to have illegally modified rear attenuator crash structures and were pulled out of line for qualifying during the session.

IndyCar originally said they would start in 11th and 12th position, but following much outcry from critics has decided they will be moved to the final 32nd and 33rd spots on the starting grid.

The teams were also fined $100,000 each and their strategists have been suspended from participating in further Indy 500 activities this year. Points earned during qualifying have also been forfeited.

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“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 in a news release.

“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.”

Team Penske’s third car, driven by Scott McLaughlin, crashed during practice ahead of Top 12 qualifying and did not take part. An inspection of the car found that it had a legal attenuator, however, and McLaughlin will start the race in 10th position as the rest of the field behind him shifts up two spots.