Indy 500: 3 drivers lose finishing positions after failing inspection

SPEEDWAY, IND. — Three drivers in the 109th Indianapolis 500 will lose their finishing positions after their cars failed post-race technical inspection.

Second-place finisher Marcus Ericsson, sixth-place finisher Kyle Kirkwood and 12th-place finisher Callum Ilott will instead finish 31st, 32nd and 33rd after their cars failed inspection. Officials fined each team $100,000 and suspended each team’s competition manager for the upcoming race weekend in Detroit.

According to IndyCar, they “discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved spacers and parts” on Ericsson and Kirkwood’s cars. Officials stated these covers “must be used as supplied” and that “these modifications provided the capability of enhanced aerodynamic efficiency to both cars.”

Meanwhile, IndyCar found Ilott’s car “failed to meet the minimum endplate height and location specification” during an inspection of the front wing assembly on his car.

Marcus Ericsson led the Indy 500 with 13 laps to go until Alex Palou passed him for the win with a sneak-attack move entering turn one. Ericsson tried to mount a charge but didn’t have the steam to do it, settling for second and, without knowing at the time, avoiding another controversy in a contentious race weekend.

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