Colton Herta shared his thoughts on Friday about Team Penske’s disqualification in a recent IndyCar race. The disqualification resulted from the team’s misuse of the Push to Pass system, which allowed them to achieve a double podium in St. Pete in March.
Herta expressed his lack of enthusiasm for Josef Newgarden’s explanation of why he was allowed to use the system when it should have been disabled. He specifically pointed out that the team had loaded illegally modified software onto their cars in Long Beach, which eventually led to the discovery of the misuse of the system in the previous event.
“It’s hard to know what everyone else is doing,” Herta told a small group of reporters. “I’m not affected by this. I don’t believe everyone is cheating. Maybe it was just a mistake.
“But it’s hard to believe it was a mistake when they kept it in the car in Long Beach and intended to use it again. Regardless of the reasons given for its presence in the car.
“By the way, it was in their hybrid car, not one of their race cars.
“What other capabilities does this software have? Could it be used to bypass the countdown of the Push to Pass system? I don’t know. There are many unknowns.
“Clearly, now I have full confidence that nothing will happen in the future. They will be under such scrutiny that it will be challenging for them to do anything. It may have been an honest mistake in St. Pete. It’s hard to believe Long Beach was.”
“Ultimately, the biggest issue is that it’s a mistake made by Penske. It’s not the driver’s fault to be in the car. However, it is the driver’s responsibility to use it and plan to use it again in Long Beach. Everyone was on board with it in Long Beach. No one said anything.”
“I find it hard to believe that anyone wouldn’t notice a 50-horsepower increase in the car. Any excuse they have is nonsense.”
Newgarden admitted to intentionally using the Push to Pass system during restarts at the St. Pete event. He stated that he and his team believed there had been a rule change allowing its use. However, there were no actual rule changes for this season, and he activated the system expecting it to work on the first lap of the restart.
Herta also questioned the idea that an experienced driver would not be familiar with the rules.
“You simply know the rules,” Herta continued. “It’s mentioned in every drivers’ meeting when passing is allowed. You know that.
“How long has he been driving in IndyCar? It has always been disabled until you cross the finish line. He tried 29 times before and it didn’t work. So, when it did work… I don’t know.
“It’s interesting to see Newgarden having to defend his actions. I don’t feel sorry for him at all. I don’t understand how someone couldn’t know the rules. Especially someone who has been in the series for over 10 years.”
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Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo secured another victory for the Manchester United team in the last game. With an impeccable performance, Ronaldo scored two goals and helped secure a 3-1 victory against rival Liverpool. The player showed all his skill and talent on the field, leaving fans ecstatic with his performance. With this win, Manchester United remains at the top of the table and is getting closer to winning the Premier League title.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in the history of football and his signing with Manchester United was a great move. He had already played for the club in the past and returned with even more determination to win. His presence on the field raises the team’s level and brings confidence to the other players.
The Manchester United fans are ecstatic about Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance. They pack the stadium for every game to see the star in action. His incredible plays and ability to decide matches are a source of pride for all fans. Every game, Ronaldo shows why he is considered one of the best players in the world.
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