Pagenaud Penalized In IndyCar Qualifying: Will Start Last At Long Beach

Column By: JOHN DOUGLAS / RPW – LONG BEACH, CA – Simon Pagenaud has had a fairly easy go of things in the Verizon Indy Car Series over the last 14 months but on Saturday thing got a little more difficult for the Team Penske driver was penalized for interfering with his own team mates qualifying lap. The Frenchman spoke with ESPN television and was obviously disheartened by the decision.

The infamous final hairpin turn at Long Beach was the site of the infraction, as the two Team Penske drivers maneuvered their way around Pagenaud’s car seemed to almost stall at the apex as they entered the straight. Officials determined that this cost his team mate, Helio Castroneves time on course.

Pagenaud was forced to relinquish his two fastest times of the session, which relegated him to last in the field.

The Verizon Indy Car Series Toyota Long Beach G.P. airs tomorrow at 4 PM EST on NBC Sports Network.