Da Costa stripped of Long Beach Formula E pole, Bird inherits it
Antonio Felix da Costa has been disqualified from qualifying for the Long Beach ePrix, handing Sam Bird pole position
Team Aguri driver da Costa had stunned in season-one machinery to land his first series pole, but his car's tyre pressures were found to be illegal after the session.
Tyre supplier Michelin provides a working-range guide for each meeting and the event stewards reported the "minimum hot tyre pressure was not 1.60 bar", breaching article 25.1 of the sporting regulations.
Da Costa felt the victory was a realistic target immediately after qualifying, but will now start the race at the back of the grid and faces a tough task just to score points.
The Portuguese driver is 10th in the Formula E standings with 16 points, having lost two podium positions - in Putrajaya and Buenos Aires - to mechanical problems this season.
Bird will now start from pole for the second time in three races as he looks to add to his lights-to-flag victory in Buenos Aires, and also inherits the three points for pole.
Abt Audi Sport driver Lucas di Grassi moves onto the front row.
Champion Nelson Piquet Jr has picked up a 10-place grid penalty, after being forced to change a motor for the second time this season.
Because the NEXTEV TCR driver only qualified 15th he will start second-from-last and have to serve an additional 10-second penalty during the mandatory car swaps.
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