The American Josef Newgarden won the premiere of the Indycar series in St. Petersburg, Florida, on March 10, but a month and a half later comes the news that he has been washed and stripped of the victory.
Stall Penske is said to have manipulated the turbo system used in overtaking so that it could be put into play during starts and restarts, which is not allowed.
“A mistake”
The move is only being discovered ahead of the second leg of the race this past weekend in Long Beach, California.
Two-time championship winner Newgarden – who last season won the Indy 500 – allegedly used the advantage during the race and is now stripped of the victory. Team mate Scott McLaughlin is also washed up and stripped of his third place.
“I pressed the (turbo) button out of habit, but I didn’t pass any cars and I didn’t get any time advantage either. A mistake was made,” writes McLaughlin in social media.
Third-placed driver Will Power, who finished fourth in the race, is said not to have misused the turbo and is now moved up to second in the standings, but is deducting ten points in the overall standings.
“A big disappointment. I’m ashamed,” writes stable owner Roger Penske in a text message to the AP news agency.
Rosenqvist new fifth
The race’s runner-up Pato O’Ward now gets the victory in St Petersburg and the Swede Felix Rosenqvist becomes the new fifth after initially driving in a seventh place.
In the overall standings Scott Dixon, who won at Long Beach, takes over the lead from Newgarden.
The next Indycar Series race is in Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend (April 26-28).
