Alex Palou grabbed pole for the 110th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the headlines shifted Sunday night when officials moved two cars to the back of the grid. Caio Collet and Jack Harvey were hit with penalties after post-qualifying inspection found unapproved changes to their Energy Management System covers, costing Collet qualifying points and both drivers their original grid spots. The teams involved are A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, and the fallout will reshuffle starting positions and points ahead of the big race.
Qualifying on Sunday was a tense affair, with Alex Palou ultimately taking the top spot while a deep pack of contenders sorted themselves out behind him. Caio Collet originally posted the 10th-fastest time and even made it into the Top 12 session, while Jack Harvey slotted in 29th in prelims. Those results looked secure until post-qualifying tech checks changed the picture late in the evening.
IndyCar officials said inspections of car Nos. 4 and 24 uncovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System covers and the cover-to-A-arm mounting points. The issue was not a cosmetic tweak; race control determined the hardware used differed from what is allowed, and that crossed a clear line in the rulebook. The ruling meant both cars lost their qualifying results and were bumped to the rear of the field in entrant points order.
During post-qualifying inspection of car Nos. 4 and 24, INDYCAR Officiating discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware. According to the INDYCAR rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied.
IndyCar also cited specific sections of the technical regulations when explaining the decision, pointing to Rule 14.12.1.1 and Rule 14.12.1.6. The first rule insists EMS components be used exactly as supplied by Dallara and as approved by series officials, while the second limits how EMS covers may be attached. Those provisions exist to protect fairness and safety, and the series enforced them fully in this case.
The penalties carry a direct competitive cost. Collet loses the three points he earned for advancing to the Top 12 qualifying round, which will affect his season tally, and his starting spot drops from 10th to 32nd on race day. Jack Harvey’s result was disallowed as well, leaving him to start 33rd for the Indianapolis 500 after the reshuffle. IndyCar further adjusted the points distribution so Scott Dixon and Rinus VeeKay inherit the moved-up qualifying points for 10th and 11th places.
For A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, the penalties force a rethink before the race, as track position at Indianapolis is hard to regain on raw pace alone. Teams typically plan strategy around the starting spot, pit windows, and traffic expectations, so being sent to the rear changes both setup priorities and race-day tactics. The drivers will still have 500 miles to make moves, but starting from the back complicates the plan significantly.
Fans and pundits will be watching closely at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to see how both teams respond in practice and on race day, and whether any appeal or clarification follows from the teams involved. The enforcement serves as a reminder that tiny hardware differences can have big consequences in open-wheel racing, and that technical compliance is as crucial as driver performance. With the 110th running looming, the field has been reordered, and everyone will be eager to see how the weekend unfolds from here.
