Palou, McLaughlin, Rossi, Siegel get grid penalties for Nashville
Another set of grid penalties have been announced for the final NTT IndyCar Series round of the season, and they affect two of the three championship contenders.
IndyCar has assessed a nine-position starting grid penalty for the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of championship leader Alex Palou, the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet of Scott McLaughlin — who is third in points with a mathematical shot at the title — and the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevy of Alexander Rossi for Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. All three entries made unapproved engine changes following the Sunday, Sept. 1 race at the Milwaukee Mile.
In addition to the these three entries, IndyCar added a fourth penalty for the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevy of Nolan Siegel, who required a new engine following a crash during practice.
The teams were in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and are served at the series’ next race.
ED: This article was updated to reflect an additional penalty following practice.