Indianapolis 500 two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden and his teammate Will Power will start from the final two spots on the grid after their teams were penalized for violating IndyCar rules during qualifying weekend. The penalties come as a result of unapproved changes made to the rear attenuator, a safety device designed to absorb and reduce the force of impacts.
The IndyCar Series has imposed significant penalties on Team Penske, including suspending team strategists for the race and forcing them to forfeit qualification points and pit box selections. Each of the two cars will be fined $100,000. This is not the first controversy to affect Team Penske’s IndyCar program in over a year, as they were also involved in a push-to-pass scandal last season.
IndyCar president Doug Boles expressed his determination to ensure that the sport remains fair and level playing field for all competitors. “We need our biggest stakeholders to believe that it’s a level playing field,” he said. “This is not something we’re going to continue to allow to happen.”
The incident has sparked criticism from rival team owner Chip Ganassi, who accused Team Penske of cheating. Pato O’Ward, an Arrow McLaren driver, also expressed his disappointment and questioned why Team Penske continues to push the envelope when it comes to the rules.
The four drivers involved in the penalty have expressed their frustration and disappointment at not being able to qualify for the race on merit. Despite the setback, Newgarden will remain determined to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indy 500s.
Source: https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/45224491/penske-newgarden-power-dropped-rear-indianapolis-500-grid