INDYCAR Lowers the Boom on Penske, Sends Power and Newgarden to the Back

The month of May took a dramatic turn on Monday as INDYCAR handed down one of the toughest penalties in recent history. Team Penske’s Will Power and Josef Newgarden were found to have illegal modifications to their rear attenuators, a violation of Rule 14.7.8.16.

As punishment, both drivers have been moved to the back of the grid for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, now starting 32nd and 33rd. They also lost their race strategists, were fined $100,000 each, and forfeited their pit box selections and qualifying points.

Newgarden and Power still showed plenty of speed in Monday’s practice, finishing eighth and seventh respectively. But with two of the most accomplished drivers in the field now starting dead last, both will need to pull off something spectacular to contend.

Scott McLaughlin, Penske’s third driver, was not penalized and will start 10th. Pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman and favorites like Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, and Pato O’Ward are now even better positioned for success in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The green flag drops this Sunday — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Race coverage begins at 11 on our stations, and online at our website.