Team Penske's Power, McLaughlin lock up front row at IndyCar after controversial week
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Getting back in the race car was “the best medicine in the world” for Josef Newgarden. That’s also Scott McLaughlin’s “favorite place in the world.”
Team Penske, Newgarden, McLaughlin and Will Power get to end a controversy-filled week tucked into their high-speed sanctuaries for a couple of hours during Sunday’s race at Barber, a picturesque road course where they’ve combined for seven wins over the years.
On Wednesday, Newgarden was stripped of his season-opening win at St. Petersburg, Florida, and defending Barber winner McLaughlin lost his third-place finish for manipulating their push-to-pass system. Power was docked series points and also fined, though he didn’t make improper use of the push-to-pass.
Back on the track, Team Penske got much better news in Saturday’s qualifying, when McLaughlin won the pole and Power was second-fastest to set up an all-Penske front row. That successful qualifying came shortly after series and team owner Roger Penske summoned his fellow owners for a meeting.