VeeKay joins Penske's Newgarden and Power in Indy 500's last row

INDIANAPOLIS - After winning the Indianapolis 500 in back-to-back years, Josef Newgarden will start from the back of the pack.




And he won't be alone-teammate Will Power is also in the last row.




IndyCar penalized the Team Penske teammates for unsanctioned modifications to the attenuators on their race cars. Series officials discovered the modifications during Sunday's Top 12 Qualifying, and neither driver had the chance to make a qualifying run.




Team owner Roger Penske dismissed three top officials in the wake of the scandal. The attenuator, located on the rear of the car, is designed to reduce G-forces during rear collisions. Team Penske is accused of filling a gap in the attenuator. Under IndyCar rules, the part can't be modified.




During Indianapolis 500 Media Day, Newgarden and Power didn't have much to say about the situation.




"I don't want to disappoint or offend anybody. I'm here to talk about the race. I'm here with my team. I'm ready to go racing. I love this race," Newgarden said. "My goodness, I've been enjoying being here this whole time. I look forward to it every year, as we all do. Ready to go to work with our group. Proud of everything that we have done up to this point. Ready to go racing. So that's what I got to say."




The back row isn't completely foreign territory for 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power, who started 32^nd in the 2021 race.




"I have started back there, so I've done it before," Power said. "It obviously makes things tougher, but there's no such thing as good luck or bad luck-it's just circumstance. It may be the thing that wins you the race, you never know."




Power said he was "shocked" by the dismissals during qualifications and commended his crew members for doing their jobs.

Last Row Party

As members of the last row-Newgarden will start 32^nd and Power 33^rd-both drivers joined Rinus VeeKay (he'll start 31^st) for the Last Row Party. Sponsored by the Indianapolis Press Club Foundation, the fundraiser features the three drivers set to compete in the eleventh row.




The Dallara factory in Speedway served as the venue. The annual event gives fans the opportunity to meet the drivers and get pictures and autographs.




It's also a chance for the drivers to unwind and enjoy some light roasting.




VeeKay, who doesn't drink, downed a Miller beer in honor of rookie Jacob Abel, the last man out of the field. Abel's red-and-white livery paid tribute to Danny Sullivan's 1985 "Spin and Win" car, complete with Miller graphics. This marks the 40th anniversary of the wild finish.




"I don't drink! This is something rare," VeeKay said before taking a drink, grimacing and giving a thumbs up.




"I keep telling people I'm happy to be here, which I'm not totally sure is true," VeeKay said. "No, it's actually really fun. There's a lot of people around, and I think it's a really nice, it's just a really nice thing to do, even for, you know, it's kind of a joke for the guys who are driving now. And, of course, having Newgarden and WiIl Power in the back row, it makes it kind of funny."






Newgarden, who had a spot in the top 12 before being moved to the back of the field, tried to take things in stride.




"It wouldn't be an IndyCar career if you don't come to the Last Row Party for the Indy 500," he said.




While his starting position is different, Newgarden's mission remains the same.




"You know, there's a little bit more noise probably around us this year, but I don't think it changes the difficulty of it," he said. "You know, I think winning Indy is tough by itself, regardless of the circumstances. So, we just gotta focus on what's in our control with the car on track in good condition and be ready to race, basically."




Power tried to soak it all in.




"I try to enjoy all these events," he said. "You know, you don't get to do this forever. It's cool to have so many good people here that are very enthusiastic about racing."




During the party, Newgarden was ribbed about his "newest book," Josef Discovers Bondo. Bondo refers to a substance used for numerous purposes, such as filling gaps. The title riffs on Newgarden's children's book about the race, Josef's BIG Dream, and references the penalty that got him in the last row in the first place.




Power's roast was a Top 10 Spotify list of songs about cheating, getting caught or breaking the rules.



via: https://fox59.com/news/indy-500-sports/veekay-joins-penskes-newgarden-and-power-in-indy-500s-last-row/