Cars for Newgarden, Power moved to back of Indy 500 field over attenuator violation

INDIANAPOLIS - Two Team Penske drivers have been moved to the back of the Indianapolis 500 field after their cars failed inspection during Sunday's qualifying.




According to IndyCar, rides for Josef Newgarden and Will Power will be moved to the 32^nd and 33^rd positions for this year's race. The league said the issue involved modified attenuators that violated IndyCar rules.




"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 statement. "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."




Both cars failed inspection during Top 12 Qualifying and were unable to make a run for pole position in the Firestone Fast 6 on Sunday night. Newgarden (2023 and 2024) and Power (2018) are both former Indianapolis 500 winners. Newgarden is seeking his third consecutive 500 win.




Fellow Penske driver Scott McLaughlin crashed during practice. He was unable to make a run during Top 12 qualifying. The No. 3 car will start in the 10^th spot, as his car was using a "legal and unmodified attenuator," the league said.




IndyCar is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500. Both cars will forfeit qualification points and each entry has been fined $100,000.




The cars for Newgarden and Power will also surrender their pit boxes after the field is adjusted.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indy-500-sports/cars-for-newgarden-power-moved-to-back-of-indy-500-field-over-attenuator-violation/