UPDATED Sunday, 11am ET: Alex Palou has received a six-position grid penalty for the Monterey Grand Prix after an unapproved engine change was made following qualifying on Saturday.
Palou’s No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda had a fresh motor installed after Honda Performance Development found an issue with the Spaniard’s engine. IndyCar allows four engines to be used per season without penalty; by installing the No. 10’s fifth, a six-spot penalty is triggered on road and street courses.
Earning fifth in qualifying, the 2021 series champion will be demoted to 11th for Sunday’s 95-lap contest. With the penalty, Palou would move championship-contending teammate Marcus Ericsson from 10th to ninth for the race that starts at 12:30 p.m. PT (NBC).
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