(Indianapolis, IN) – A pair of Team Penske drivers have been moved to the back of the Indianapolis 500 field after their cars failed inspection during Sunday’s qualifying.
IndyCar says rides for Josef Newgarden and Will Power will be moved to the 32nd and 33rd positions for Sunday’s race.
The league said the issue involved modified attenuators that violated IndyCar rules.
In addition, the circuit is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indy 500.
Each entry has been fined $100-thousand, and both cars will forfeit qualification points.
Newgarden and Power’s cars will also surrender their pit boxes after the field is adjusted.
“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 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug 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.”
Newgarden is the two-time defending champ, while Power won the race in 2018.