IndyCar's season-opening race at St. Petersburg took an unexpected turn as Josef Newgarden's victory was disqualified due to Team Penske's manipulation of the push-to-pass system. This decision elevated Pato O'Ward, driving for McLaren, to the top spot after originally finishing second. Scott McLaughlin, another Penske teammate who secured third place, was also disqualified, along with a 10-point deduction for Will Power, the third Penske driver. Furthermore, all three Penske entries received a $25,000 fine and will forfeit their prize money from the race.
IndyCar President Jay Frye emphasized the importance of upholding the championship's integrity, stating that the violation was detected post-race at St. Petersburg but rectified before the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. To prevent future infractions, new technical inspection procedures will be implemented starting from the upcoming race at Barber Motorsports Park.
