INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar officials have penalized the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises team following post-race technical inspection after Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
Santino Ferrucci drove the car to an impressive runner-up finish behind winner Kyle Kirkwood, but the car was found to be under the required driver ballast weight following the event.
IndyCar officials discovered the driver ballast needed to bring the combined weight of the driver and driver ballast to 185 pounds was underweight and not within the driver ballast weight tolerance of 0.00 to + 1.00 pounds.
However, also during inspection, the series found the weight of car No. 14, itself, was 10 pounds over the minimum weight for road and street circuits of 1,785 pounds and competed over the minimum weight requirement on-track.
According to IndyCar, A.J. Foyt Enterprises was in violation of:
Rule 14.4.2. Driver Equivalency Weight
Rule 14.4.2.2. Driver Equivalency Weight must bring the combined weight of the Driver and Driver ballast to 185 pounds.
Rule 14.4.2.5. The Driver ballast weight tolerance is 0.00 to + 1.00 pounds. The Driver Equivalency Weight must be installed and secured in the designed location forward of the seatback. This location may only be used for Driver ballast.
This rule is in place to equalize the weight of varying-sized drivers so there is no advantage based on the weight of the driver. Post-race weight determination, as implemented by IndyCar, is a common practice after every event and in nearly all forms of motorsports to ensure an equal playing field.
Ferrucci will keep the second-place finish, but the team has been fined $25,000 and will forfeit 25 championship driver and entrant points. The bonus point for leading a lap also is not awarded.
The No. 14 also is ineligible for engine points and prize money associated with the race.
