MONTEREY, Calif. — The end of the NTT IndyCar season doesn’t mean the end of grid penalties.
On Friday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, IndyCar announced another grid penalty to Agustin Canapino for an unapproved engine change on his No. 78 Juncos-Hollinger Chevrolet.
That means Canapino will start six positions behind his qualification position on Sunday.
The reason for the recent surge in grid-spot penalties as engines reach the mileage limitation and teams go over the total number of engines allowed by IndyCar and its manufacturers, Chevrolet and Honda.
Teams are allowed a maximum of four engines per season. Once a fifth engine is installed, that team stops scoring points for the manufacturer’s championship.
The team was in violation of:
Rule 16.2.3.2 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 16.6.1.2, the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.