Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden expressed deep remorse and accepted responsibility for manipulating the push-to-pass system in his season-opening IndyCar win, which has since been stripped. In an emotional news conference at Barber Motorsports Park, Newgarden acknowledged the embarrassment of the situation and the potential challenges in regaining the respect of his peers.
Newgarden, a two-time series champion, emphasized that he did not intentionally break the rules and insisted that he is not a liar. The disqualification of his victory at St. Petersburg marked the first such incident in IndyCar in 29 years, a decision Newgarden deemed as the right call by the series.
Team Penske, which Newgarden races for, faced penalties as well, with teammate Scott McLaughlin also disqualified and Will Power docked points. The team explained that the push-to-pass system was mistakenly left on their cars after a test session and was not removed before the season began.
IndyCar President Jay Frye announced new measures to prevent similar incidents, including locking logging units on cars after qualifying to prevent changes in push-to-pass settings. The series aims to rely on data rather than intent to enforce rules effectively.
Newgarden expressed regret for the situation and vowed to earn back trust through actions rather than words. Despite facing skepticism from competitors like Colton Herta and Pato O'Ward, who questioned his awareness of rule violations, Newgarden maintained his stance that he was unaware of the infraction until it was discovered at Long Beach.
The disqualification of Newgarden's win at St. Petersburg has stirred controversy in the IndyCar community, with differing opinions on the extent of responsibility shared by the driver and his team. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding rules and integrity in motorsports.
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