IndyCar to defer grid penalties until after Indianapolis 500

The series issues a standard 10-place grid penalty to any team that makes an unapproved change of engine which is normally served at the race immediately following the change.

But IndyCar vice president of technology Will Phillips said that an exception would be made in the three weeks after Brazil so as not to disrupt the grid for the series' hallmark event.

"We do not intend to apply any penalties that will disrupt the Indy 500 starting field from their qualifying positions," Phillips said.

"We're not saying there will not be any penalties; the penalties just won't be served at Indianapolis. They'll carry that penalty forward to the next event. Likewise, if someone racks up two penalties, they will go forward to the next two events."

The period covers the open test on May 7 at Texas Motor Speedway, rookie and team testing, and on-track activity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through to Bump Day on May 20.

Indy 500 entrants will receive a fresh engine for the 500-mile race, which Phillips expects teams to install for the final practice session on Carb Day. If a team experiences an engine issue during the one-hour session May 25 that requires it to be replaced, it would be subject to 10-grid position penalty for its next race.

The fresh engine for race will count as one of the five allocated to each entry during the season. The entry will continue to use that engine until it has reached the 1,850-mile threshold for service or incurs a problem that forces its replacement.

The engine with unused miles from pre-Carb Day will then be returned for use until it has reached its mileage expiration.