IndyCar handed out disciplinary action and stripped Josef Newgarden of his season-opening win after officials found evidence of illegally using the push-to-pass system on restarts.
Scott McLaughlin, Newgarden’s team-mate who finished third, was also disqualified for similar actions.
The outcome promoted Pato O’Ward as the race winner 45 days after the event, collecting the fifth victory of his career and first since the second act of the Iowa double-header in 2022.
The third Team Penske entry of Will Power received a 10-point penalty but was not stripped of his finish as his car was capable of using it at starts and restarts, but he did not use it. He was elevated to second after the disqualification of his team-mates, while Andretti Global’s Colton Herta was moved up to third.
The victory is Ward’s first since he began overseeing McLaren’s IndyCar programme in 2023 under his former title as racing director. His maiden campaign in the role saw the team finish runner-up five times, including four with O’Ward.
“I was hoping to celebrate this first one for me a little bit different way down in Victory Lane with all our team but at the end of the day, when you win, you win,” he said. “So, we’ll enjoy this.”
Source: Autosport