FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — IndyCar championship contenders Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay will both be penalized on the starting grid for unapproved engine changes before Saturday night’s season finale.
IndyCar was informed Friday by 14 teams planning to make change engines. The penalty is a loss of 10 spots on the starting grid.
IndyCar implemented the rule this year as a cost-control measure for manufacturers. It was meant to discourage teams from needlessly changing engines before reaching a minimum mileage mark.
But teams have complained about the penalty being enforced on engine failures, arguing the manufacturer should be punished instead of the driver. IndyCar will reconsider the rule during the offseason.
Power takes a 17-point lead over Hunter-Reay into Saturday night’s finale at Auto Club Speedway.
