The NTT IndyCar Series has announced that two additional drivers will receive a grid drop for this weekend’s race at Portland International Raceway.
The six place penalties will be given to Scott McLaughlin and Kyffin Simpson for unapproved engine changes in the middle of the race weekend.
McLaughlin already had a poor qualifying effort earlier in the day on Saturday, failing to advance from the first round.
His performance placed him 14th, but the New Zealander will start from 20th following the penalty.
He had been very quick throughout the other practice sessions of the weekend, however, and seems to have a good chance of climbing through the field with his new power plant.
Simpson qualified in 26th out of 28 drivers, so will only move back one row on account of the engine change.
Simpson’s #4 entry was already penalized in Iowa for taking on engines above the prescribed yearly limit, and is moved backwards again for the new infraction.
Both teams decided to change their car’s engines following Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session, which is why the penalties were announced so late in the weekend.
The two additional penalties bring the total number of drivers moving backwards on the grid to five, four of which are powered by Honda engines.
The 110-lap Grand Prix of Portland takes place Sunday at 12:00 Pacific Time.
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