SONOMA, Calif. - The Verizon IndyCar Series’ season finale, the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma (6:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN), will have one additional wrinkle going into it.
Team Penske has made a last-minute crew swap between its No. 2 hum by Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet and No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, for Josef Newgarden and Will Power, who will start on the front row of the race.
The outside tire changers, so the right side tire changers, and airjack crew will be swapped between the two cars.
Confirmed with Team Penske that the right side tire changers and air jack for the 2 and 12 have switched spots. #IndyCar
— TrackSideOnline presented by Honda Racing/HPD (@tracksideonline) September 17, 2017
This will mean the following:
- Newgarden’s usual outside front (Vance Welker), outside rear (Clay Turner) and airjack (Adam Baranski) will move to Power’s car.
- Power’s usual outside front (Matt Jonsson), outside rear (Shaun Rinaman) and airjack (Blaine Hardy) will move to Newgarden’s car.
- Both Welker (Newgarden) and Jonsson (Power) are the chief mechanics for both entries.
The team has confirmed the changes to NBC Sports. Jonsson was spotted in a hum by Verizon (No. 2) white crew shirt in the paddock, rather than his usual Verizon (No. 12) gray shirt.
Per Tim Cindric, Team Penske president, the change was made to place some of Power’s race-winning crew from Indianapolis earlier this year onto Newgarden’s car. Cindric is Newgarden’s race strategist, having moved over from Power’s box earlier this year.
Both drivers will start the race on Firestone’s black primary tires.
