INDIANAPOLIS — For the second straight year, cars that qualified for the Indianapolis 500 have failed post-qualifying technical inspection and their qualification attempts have been disallowed.
This time, it’s the No. 4 AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet driven by rookie driver Caio Collett and Jack Harvey’s No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
IndyCar Officiating announced at 10 p.m. that during post-qualifying inspection of car Nos. 4 and 24, IndyCar Officiating discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to.A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware. According to the INDYCAR rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied.
A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing were in violation of:
- Rule 14.12.1.1. EMS must be used as supplied by Dallara and approved by INDYCAR.
- Rule 14.12.1.6. EMS covers may only be attached with the supplied hardware and Helicopter Tape.
Both cars (Nos. 4 and 24) have had their qualifying results disallowed and have been re-ordered to the rear of the field in order of entrant points.
Additionally, Car No. 4 had its three Indy 500 qualification points also disallowed. Subsequently, Car Nos. 9 (Scott Dixon) and 76 (Rinus VeeKay) will be awarded 10th and 11th place Indy 500 qualification points. Car No. 75 driven by Takuma Sato at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is ineligible for qualification points as it did not participate in Top 12 qualifying.
Car Nos. 4 (Collett) and 24 (Harvey) also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.
Collet, a rookie driver from Sao Palou, Brazil, originally qualified for the 10th starting position with a four-lap average of 230.539 mph. Harvey was scheduled to start 29th after running a four-lap average of 229.207 mph.
Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the NTT IndyCar Series rulebook.
