Andretti Global, Prema Racing Penalized $100k for Indy 500 Violations

The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 was nothing short of a rollercoaster. But the drama didn’t end with the checkered flag.

In a stunning turn of events, IndyCar announced that two cars from Andretti Global and one from Prema Racing failed their post-race technical inspections. This revelation led to significant penalties and reshuffled the final standings of the prestigious race.

The No. 27 car of Kyle Kirkwood and the No. 28 car of Marcus Ericsson from Andretti Global, along with Callum Ilott’s No. 90 Prema car, violated technical regulations. These violations brought severe consequences for the teams involved.

IndyCar’s Technical Violation Findings

IndyCar’s post-race inspections found that the No. 27 and No. 28 Andretti Global cars had modified the *Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved spacers and parts*. IndyCar stated that *these modifications provided the capability of enhanced aerodynamic efficiency to both cars*.

That’s a pretty big deal for the teams’ reputations. It’s not the kind of headline anyone wants to see after such a major event.

Andretti Global’s Response

After the announcement, Andretti Global said they are *taking the necessary time to assess the information and will be requesting a full review with INDYCAR*. The team wants to understand exactly what happened and might challenge the findings.

Per IndyCar’s rulebook, Andretti has two business days to submit a request detailing the errors they believe officials made. If their submission checks out, IndyCar will consider it for review.

Prema Racing’s Technical Violation

Prema Racing’s No. 90 entry, driven by Callum Ilott, had a front wing that didn’t meet the minimum endplate height and location specifications. The team missed the left endplate height requirement, and the design rules say endplates, wing flaps, and mainplanes must stay in their intended locations.

This violation also brought down some heavy penalties for Prema. It’s not a great look, honestly.

Prema Racing’s Response

On Tuesday morning, Prema Racing accepted full responsibility for the violation. The team pointed out that the same wing had passed technical inspections several times during the month, and they insist the issue didn’t create any performance gain.

Still, the car ended up non-compliant at the end of the race. Prema’s investigating the root of the problem—could be incidents, fitment, or even production issues.

They say they’re committed to putting better procedures in place to avoid this in the future. You have to respect owning up to it, even if it stings.

Consequences and Penalties

Because of these technical violations, officials moved all three cars to the back of the field in the official Indy 500 standings. Marcus Ericsson’s 2nd-place finish dropped to 31st, Kyle Kirkwood’s 6th place fell to 32nd, and Callum Ilott’s 13th place slipped to 33rd.

Each car received a $100,000 fine. Their teams and competition managers will also serve a one-race suspension at the upcoming Detroit event.

Review Process and Future Implications

If Andretti Global wants to challenge the penalties, they can request a review. IndyCar will consider the submission if it meets requirements.

The series and the team must agree on a facilitator, who’ll listen to both sides and decide whether to uphold, overturn, or modify the original decision. This whole process might take up to two weeks, depending on how quickly everyone responds.

Looking Ahead

The next race in Detroit feels huge for both Andretti Global and Prema Racing. They’re both hoping to bounce back after those penalties.

The teams really need to double-check that their cars meet every technical regulation. If they slip up again, more penalties could hit them, and that would make it even tougher to climb in the championship.

If you want all the details or just need to see the whole story, check out the full article on Motorsport.com.