Team Penske and Others Face Grid Penalties for Engine Changes Ahead of IndyCar Race in Portland

Team Penske and Others Face Grid Penalties for Engine Changes Ahead of IndyCar Race in Portland

Team Penske was busy changing engines on a tight schedule, resulting in three drivers receiving grid penalties from IndyCar for exceeding the engine limit. Josef Newgarden's crew had to swap out the Chevy power plant after practice, pushing them over the limit. The crew had only 90 minutes to complete the engine change, with all three Penske cars' crews working on the task.

Christian Lundgaard and Santino Ferrucci will also face grid penalties for changing engines after Friday's practice sessions. Lundgaard, who was fastest in Friday's practice, had to replace the engine right after that session. Ferrucci, a previous pole sitter in Portland, is hoping the new Chevy engine will boost his performance this weekend.

All three drivers will drop six positions on the grid from their qualifying spots due to the penalties. However, they will retain their pole awards if they set the fastest time. Kyffin Simpson also received a six-place grid penalty for avoidable contact in the previous race at Laguna Seca.

Qualifying for the upcoming race in Portland is scheduled for 11:30 AM PT. The penalties add an extra challenge for the affected drivers as they aim to secure a good starting position for the race.