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Chevrolet to contest IndyCar penalties imposed after Indianapolis

Chevrolet intends to contest penalties imposed by IndyCar in the wake of the series' inaugural race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course last weekend

The manufacturer was fined $20,000 and penalised 10 manufacturer points after having been determined to have violated rule 11.2 (torque control) and 12.1 (traction control) of the series' rulebook.

The former rule states that "the only means by which a driver may control the engine torque is via a single chassis-mounted foot pedal or on-board fuel mixture switch.

"Designs which allow specific points along the pedal range to be identified by the driver or to assist in holding a position are not permitted. The minimum and maximum pedal travel positions must correspond to the engine throttle minimum (normal idle) and maximum open positions."

It then outlines specific exceptions for when a stuck throttle is detected, during a gearshift, pitlane speed limit control, engine rev limit control and to control overboosting.

The latter rule bans any form of traction control or launch control, with the exception of anti-stall when used to prevent engine stoppage.

Chevrolet vice-president of performance vehicles and motorsports Jim Campbell said that the manufacturer intends to protest the finding.

"Chevrolet is in receipt of the penalty levied by IndyCar," he said.

"After carefully reviewing the rules cited by IndyCar in the rule violation document, Chevrolet does not agree with IndyCar's assessment.

"We intend to follow the review procedure as set forth in section 12 of the series rulebook."

OPINION: Indy's road course gamble pays off

The penalties against Chevrolet were the most severe of the three handed out following post-race inspections.

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports was fined $1000 after the car of race-winner Simon Pagenaud was found to be in violation of rule 14.6.7.7, which states that the underwing splitter must remain as supplied with the exception of adding fasteners or the permitted trim to the underwing sidewall.

And Team Penske was also fined $1000 after the car of third-placed Helio Castroneves was determined to be in breach of rule 14.15.17, which relates to the assembly of the differential.

Both SPM and Penske have the option to exercise the same right to appeal as that being used by Chevrolet.

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