IndyCar schedules Loudon protest hearings
Protests on behalf of the No. 2 car fielded by Newman/Haas Racing and the No. 9 car fielded by Target Chip Ganassi Racing were received by INDYCAR within 30 minutes of the posting of official results.
The protest hearing will take place the week of Aug. 22 in Indianapolis. Andretti Autosport has been invited to participate in the hearing because of its No. 28 car's interest in the outcome of the protests.
In his role as Senior Official and pursuant to Rule 12.4, Brian Barnhart has elected to select individuals to resolve the protest. The individuals will be announced at a later date.
Barnhart, president of competition and operations, INDYCAR, who also serves as Race Director of the IZOD IndyCar Series said: "Given my role in Race Control, I feel that it is in everyone's best interest to have an independent panel hear the protests. I believe a panel will help maintain a fair hearing."
Per Section 12 of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook:
12.4 Jurisdiction – The Senior Official shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to resolve all protests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Senior Official shall have the right, in his discretion, to select an individual or individuals to resolve a protest with all of the powers and responsibilities of the Senior Official set forth in this Rule XII. The jurisdiction of the Senior Official is limited to those matters and issues submitted to the Senior Official by the protestant. The decision which is the subject of the protest shall not be stayed pending the protest unless otherwise determined by the Senior Official and upon such terms as the Senior Official deems appropriate.
12.6 Hearing of the Protest – The Senior Official may cause an investigation to be made into the matters surrounding the protest and shall convene a hearing within 14 days of receipt of the protest notice unless the hearing date is extended by the mutual agreement of the Senior Official and the protestant. The protestant and any Member requesting an opportunity to participate and who the Senior Official determines has a material interest in the protest (as described in Rule 13.4) shall be entitled to be heard and given an opportunity to call witnesses and shall be given adequate notice of the hearing. If a Member is called as a witness and fails to appear, INDYCAR may revoke the Member's membership or otherwise penalize the Member. The hearing shall be informal and shall be confined to the errors claimed in the protest and evidence relevant to those errors. The decision of the Senior Official on the protest shall be final and binding on all Members, subject only to the right to appeal the decision under the Rules. Any award withheld as a result of a protest shall continue to be withheld until the protest has been finally adjudicated in accordance with the Rules.