This past weekend IndyCar set the starting grid for the 109th annual Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The number two and 12 Team Penske cars driven by Josef Newgarden and Will Power failed post qualifying inspection and have been moved to the back of the eleven row field for the race.  Officials found that the crews violated IndyCar Rule 14.7.8.16 when they modified the attenuators on the cars.

IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles spoke on the infractions saying, “upon further review last night and early this morning, IndyCar will be moving cars number two and 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.  They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday.  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. 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.”

In addition to starting the race from the back of the field, the Team Penske cars the team strategists – Tim Cindric and Ron Ruzewski – has been suspended for the remainder of the Indy 500 events, must forfeit Indianapolis 500 qualification points and pit selection position – they will pick last -, and each car has been fined $100,000.

Scott McLaughlin had an accident earlier in the day and did not qualify his number three car for the Top 12.  After a review, IndyCar impounded the number three car’s attenuator, but later found the part was legal and McLaughlin will start the race in 10th place.

The starting lineup for the Indianapolis 500:
Robert Shwartzman
Takuma Sato
Pato O’Ward
Scott Dixon
Felix Rosenqvist
Alex Palou
David Malukas
Christian Lundgaard
Marcus Ericsson
Scott McLaughlin
conor Daly
Alexander Rossi
Kyffin Simpson
Ed Carpenter
Santino Ferrucci
Devlin DeFrancesco
Sting Ray Robb
Christian rasmussen
Kyle Larson
Louis Foster
Callum Ilott
Helio Castroneves
Kye Kirkwood
Nolan Siegel
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Jack Harvey
Colton Herta
Graham Rahal
Marco Andretti
Marcus Armstrong
Rinus VeeKay
Josef Newgarden
Will Power