Achi news desk-
Josef Newgarden’s victory in the opening race of the IndyCar season in St. Petersburg was disqualified on Wednesday because Team Penske manipulated its push-to-pass system during the race, making Pato O’Ward the winner.
O’Ward, who drives for McLaren, had originally finished second.
Penske’s teammate Scott McLaughlin, who finished third, was also disqualified. Penske’s third driver, Will Power, was docked 10 points. In addition, the three entries have been fined US$25,000 and will forfeit all prizes associated with the race.
Roger Penske owns IndyCar.
“The integrity of the IndyCar Series championship is critical to everything we do,” said IndyCar President Jay Frye. “Although the crime was not found in St. Petersburg, IndyCar discovered the treatment during Sunday’s warm-up at Long Beach and immediately addressed it ensuring all cars were compliant at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Starting with this week’s race at Barber Motorsport Park, new technical inspection procedures will be in place to prevent this infringement.”
Newgarden, a two-time IndyCar champion and reigning Indianapolis 500 winner who is in a contract year with Penske, fell from first to 11th in the points with the suspension.
A review of the data from the St. Petersburg that Team Penske manipulated the overtaking system so that all three Penske drivers could use push-to-pass starts and restarts. According to IndyCar rules, overtaking is not available until the car reaches the opposite starting line.
“Unfortunately, the push-to-base software was not removed as it should have been, following recently completed hybrid testing in Team Penske Indy cars,” Team Penske President Tim Cindric said in a statement. “This software allowed push-in. -pass to be used during a restart in the St Petersburg Grand Prix race, when it should not have been allowed. The No. 2 car driven by Josef Newgarden and the No. 3 car driven by Scott McLaughlin both pushed-to-pass on restarts, which violated IndyCar rules. Team Penske accepts the penalties issued by IndyCar.”
