Alex Palou faces grid penalties for IndyCar Milwaukee race

IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou and four other drivers will face grid penalties for the Snap-On 250 in Milwaukee. The penalties result from unauthorized engine changes that violated series regulations.

Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, will drop nine positions on the starting grid because the race is held on an oval circuit. Other drivers facing the same nine-position penalty include Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas of Team Penske, as well as Rinus VeeKay and Sting Ray Robb of Juncos Hollinger.

According to IndyCar regulations, a fifth engine can only be used once a specific mileage threshold is met, which was not the case for these competitors. While the penalties are significant for the championship battle, they apply specifically to Saturday's race.