Dennis Reinbold and Larry Foyt, the key decision-makers for the drivers penalized by IndyCar officials for violating league rules during Indianapolis 500 qualifying, issued statements Monday saying the teams did not intend to give Jack Harvey or Caio Collet a competitive advantage.
Harvey and Collet each had their qualifying attempts disallowed and will now start next weekend’s sold-out race from the final two spots on the 33-car starting grid.
Defending race winner Alex Palou won the pole and will try to become the seventh driver with back-to-back 500 victories.
It’s the second straight year Indianapolis has been rocked by a cheating scandal. Last year, then two-time defending champ Josef Newgarden and 2018 race winner Will Power also were sent to the back of the field after they were found to have an illegally modified spec part on their cars during 500 qualifications. Roger Penske then made leadership changes at Team Penske.
The violations found Sunday night during a post-qualifying technical inspection will make race day even harder for Harvey and Collet. Series officials determined the two cars made unapproved changes to their energy management systems and used unapproved hardware in the mounting process. All teams are required to use the equipment in the exact manner they receive it.
Indy 500 Qualifying 2 | INDYCAR on FOX
“Dreyer & Reinbold Racing did not intend to achieve a performance gain through the use of unapproved hardware,” Reinbold said. “The integrity of the sport is of the highest priority and utmost importance to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, our sponsors, partners and personnel. We apologize to (primary sponsor) Invst, Jack Harvey, our valued sponsor partners and fully accept the penalties set forth by the IndyCar Series.”
Harvey and Conor Daly are driving for DRR in the one IndyCar race the team runs each year. Daly qualified eighth and was not found to have broken any rules.
Harvey usually works on the Fox Sports telecasts of IndyCar races, but is again taking a brief hiatus this month to compete in his ninth Indianapolis 500. The English driver’s best 500 results came in 2020 when he started 20th and finished ninth, both career bests.
Larry Foyt, president of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, called it a “mistake.”
The miscue resulted in sending Collet from the No. 10 starting spot to No. 32. Collet was the fastest rookie qualifier with a four-lap qualifying average of 230.539 mph.
Foyt’s other full-time driver, Santino Ferrucci, and the team’s newest hire, Katherine Legge who is running for HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing, were not found to have violated the rules.
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Ferrucci certified fifth whereas Legge accomplished the primary half in her quest to develop into the primary feminine to aim racing’s “double.” She’ll now begin twenty sixth, however should nonetheless qualify for subsequent weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 subsequent weekend to have an opportunity at finishing the 1,100-mile marathon in the identical day.
“There was a miscommunication difficulty which resulted in a technical infraction on the No. 4 automotive. It was a expensive mistake on our half, and never meant for a efficiency acquire,” Foyt stated. “I really feel horrible for Caio who put forth such an excellent effort in qualifying to develop into the quickest rookie. He’s a gifted younger driver and I’ve little doubt he’ll come by way of the sector. It is a setback, however drivers and groups don’t make it to this stage with out dealing with challenges and overcoming them. I’ve full confidence in Caio and our staff to do the identical on race day.”
Collet additionally misplaced the three factors he obtained for making Sunday’s 12-car pole shootout. These shall be cut up between 2008 Indy winner Scott Dixon and Rinus Veekay.
Harvey and Collet additionally will lose their pit positions and would be the final groups to pick out their new pit places.
Each drivers participated in Monday’s brief apply session and are anticipated to be again on the monitor Friday for the ultimate apply earlier than subsequent weekend’s race.
Reporting by The Related Press.
