Simpson penalized over late-race crash in Arlington GP

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson has been retroactively penalized by the IndyCar Series for triggering the end-of-race crash that put Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel and Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean into the wall and out of the contest.

Simpson was able to continue in the No. 8 Honda and went on to finish 19th in the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington which left him 17th in the Drivers' championship. Citing a post-race review of video and data, IndyCar Officiating deemed Simpson as the responsible party and in violation of its avoidable contact rule.

The penalty has minimal impact on the Caymanian driver’s outcome at the event; Simpson was moved from 19th to 20th and last among drivers on the lead lap, which decreases his points total for the season from 46 to 45. Despite losing one position in the final standings, the change has not affected his hold on 17th in the standings.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, who was moved to 20th at Arlington after passing Team Penske’s David Malukas for sixth place prior to the restart line, has been elevated to 19th in the race as a result of Simpson’s penalty.

Rosenqvist, who had 47 points before Simpson’s adjustment, gained a point and owns 48 markers – but didn’t improve from 14th in the standings – entering this weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.