Following the Kohler Grand Prix at Road America, two of the Chip Ganassi Racing drivers have been found to have violated regulations, resulting in five separate fines for the team and a penalty that will carry forward to the Iowa Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing drivers receive penalties ahead of Iowa
Charlie Kimball, who finished sixth at Road America in the number 83 car, failed the minimum height requirements in post-race scrutineering. Measurements were taken at four separate locations on the underside of the car, each of which was found to be lower than the specified minimum ride height.
Each of the non-compliant measurements earned the team a $2500 fine, so the total expenditure will be $10,000.
Scott Dixon, who won the race by just half a second from Josef Newgarden, was found to have breached multiple regulations. In Sunday warm up,the number 9 car was found to have a faulty fuel cell. In order to try and recreate the fault, the team rolled him to the entrance of the pit lane and had him drive into the pit box. This was the first breach. They then sent the car out onto the track after the point at which the chequered flag had flown, before being found not to have followed the directions of the IndyCar series.
These three violations earned the team another fine, this time of $20,000. In addition, Scott Dixon will carry forward a penalty to Iowa that will see him miss out on the final twenty minutes of the opening practice session.
With the Honda runners widely thought to have a deficit at shorter ovals due to their aero kits, and with Dixon’s lead to Simon Pagenaud in the championship sitting at 34 points, the team will be glad the penalties for these infractions won’t be carried over into the race.
Practice for the Iowa Corn 300 begins on July 8th.
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