IndyCar points leader Alex Palou has received a second grid penalty in four rounds for an unapproved engine change, and has earned a six-place grid drop for this weekend’s Nashville race.
Palou received the same grid penalty for the first Detroit race of the double-header in June following an infringement at the previous round, the Indianapolis 500, where he changed an engine after final practice.
He finished 15th in the race that he had to take a grip drop, but he took the final place on the podium in the second race on Sunday.
This time Palou’s infringement came following last week’s Portland test which was attended by a number of team’s including Chip Ganassi Racing.
The number 10 team was in violation of rule 16.2.3.2 which states: “A fifth 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 engines.]
“Otherwise, a fifth or more engine does not earn engine manufacturer points and will be considered an unapproved engine change-out.”
Palou, who has won two races this year and leads the standings by 39 points over Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward.
O’Ward was the fastest driver at the Portland test last week, a venue IndyCar will head to after Nashville and Gateway.
Palou was narrowly slower in his first visit to the Portland track with the third fastest time, behind his team-mate Scott Dixon.
The Music City Grand Prix in Nashville is new to the calendar. Palou received plaudits for his first win of the season at Barber which was his first race start at the venue, so he is expected to be among the frontrunners in Nashville as well.
