By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio
Penske Perfection? At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, not so fast.
The Team Penske cars driven by two-time/reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden and Will Power will start Sunday’s 109th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” from the 11th and final row after INDYCAR officials confirmed each had committed a technical rules infraction.
The Penske pair were involved in a weird circumstance just before the start of Sunday’s Top 12 Qualifying session on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Newgarden’s No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet and Power’s No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet were pulled from making their respective one attempt after being cited with a violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16 _ specifically, an unapproved body fit on the rear attenuator of each Dallara chassis.
At the end of qualifying Sunday afternoon, the Penske entries of Scott McLaughlin, Newgarden and Power occupied Row 4 _ positions 10, 11 and 12 _ in the traditional 33-car grid.
On Monday morning, INDYCAR issued a release stating that upon review Sunday night and early Monday morning, the sanctioning body had dropped cars No. 2 and No. 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions, respectively, for Sunday’s flying start. Newgarden and Power will start the 200-lap/500-mile classic based upon their qualifying times from Saturday’s first session of time trials.
The ruling presents a significant strategic setback for Newgarden, a 34-year-old native of Nashville, Tenn., who is seeking to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indy 500s. After his car was pulled from Sunday’s qualifying round, Newgarden was spotted running laps on one of the Speedway’s ring roads, joking and waving to FOX Sports’ cameras.
Newgarden, like Power, is a two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion for 88-year-old team founder/owner Roger S. Penske, whose Penske Entertainment Corp. also owns the series and IMS but has not been immune from rules violations.
Monday’s penalty also presents an immediate career hurdle for Power, the 2018 Indy 500 champion. A 44-year-old native of Australia, Power is racing for his open-wheel future as he is in the final year of his contract with “The Captain.”
In the Monday news release, INDYCAR officials stated the sanctioning body’s focus on Sunday was ensuring that the open-wheel series had all the facts related to discovery of the modified attenuators on Newgarden’s No. 2 and Power’s No. 12 to verify they were in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16. After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by rule, the violating cars were placed in the last positions of the qualifying session in which they participated _ 11th and 12th.
Citing series’ integrity, INDYCAR decided to move the No. 2 and No. 12 cars down to 32nd and 33rd, respectively.
“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.”
McLaughlin’s No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet did not participate Sunday in the Top 12 after the native of New Zealand was involved in a grinding, single-car accident in practice. McLaughlin, 31 and last year’s Indy 500 pole-winner, was uninjured but the car sustained extensive damage.
A review of McLaughlin’s car, which included INDYCAR impounding the No. 3 attenuator, determined the car was in fact using a legal and unmodified attenuator. Therefore, car No. 3 _ latest iteration of the famed Pennzoil “Yellow Submarine” _ will start in the 10th spot, final position of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12.
Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500, both cars will forfeit Indy 500 qualification points and each entry has been fined $100,000. Cars Nos. 2 and 12 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select 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,” Boles said. “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.
“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.”
