- Seven dead in overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine
- Tehran presses on, uneasy after Israeli strikes
- Masood says Pakistan need stability after famous England win
- Iran warns will defend itself after Israeli strikes
- N.Korea involvement in Ukraine raises regional security risks: analysts
- Santner heroics seal historic New Zealand Test series win in India
- Brignone wins ski World Cup opener as Shiffrin flops
- Thitikul surges into three-way lead at LPGA in Malaysia
- Israel hits Iran military sites in retaliatory strikes
- Santner heroics seal New Zealand's first Test series win in India
- Activists say 50 killed in Sudan paramilitary attack
- Stokes says Pakistan spin duo just too good after series defeat
- Zheng to face injury doubt Kenin in Tokyo final
- Final-hole eagle puts Echavarria in driving seat in Japan
- Commonwealth agrees 'time has come' for talks on legacy of slavery
- Late Love helps All Blacks thrash Jones's plucky Japan
- Bastianini wins Thai MotoGP sprint race ahead of Martin
- New Zealand near historic Test win as India wilt in chase
- Tehran residents fear escalation after Israeli attacks
- Iran says two dead in Israeli strikes on military targets
- Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics
- Harris, Trump barnstorm battlegrounds seeking to break deadlock
- Pakistan on brink of series win as Noman, Sajid destroy England
- India 81-1 in fight to deny New Zealand historic series win
- Georgia votes in key test for democracy, EU ambitions
- New Zealand sniff historic win as India set 359 to win Test
- End of golden era for Chinese investors in Bordeaux wine
- Freeman fairytale slam powers Dodgers to World Series win
- Bagnaia claims pole for Thailand MotoGP, title rival Martin third
- Israel hits Iran missiles, bases in retaliatory strikes
- Freeman slam lifts Dodgers over Yankees in World Series thriller
- Philippine rescuers battle floodwaters to reach stranded
- Georgia votes in crucial test for democracy, EU ambitions
- Beyonce boosts Harris at abortion rights rally in Texas
- Bidzina Ivanishvili: the tycoon ruling Georgia behind the scenes
- Myanmar's war approaches Mandalay a year after rebel offensive
- Decline of rural Japan not our fault, women say
- Suarez and Alba give Miami winning start in MLS Cup playoffs
- Turkish Cypriots caught in citizenship limbo on divided island
- Final campaigning in tight Japan election
- Cali's love motels adapt to host UN summit delegates
- World champion Sakamoto takes Skate Canada lead over Liu
- Sainz tops times as Russell crashes in Mexico GP practice
- Three moments from King Charles Pacific tour
- Commonwealth announces Ghana foreign minister as new secretary general
- Gaza ministry accuses Israel of storming hospital, reports two children killed
- King Charles III departs Samoa, wrapping Pacific tour
- G7 finalize $50 bn Ukraine loan backed by Russian assets profits
- Ex-Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex crimes
- Unfulfilled talent? Two-time champion Alonso clocks up 400th F1 race
Reigning Indy 500 champ Newgarden apologizes for rule violation
Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden apologized on Friday for an IndyCar cheating scandal that led to him being stripped of a victory in March's season opener at St. Petersburg.
Newgarden said he had no knowledge his car had been manipulated to allow improper use of a "push-to-pass" power boost button and thought a rule change allowed him to use the overtake button on starts and restarts -- what was in fact a violation of IndyCar rules.
"I want to deeply apologize to our fans, our partners, my teammates, the competitors that I race against," he said Friday.
"I used push to pass at an unauthorized time twice, on two different restarts. There's really nothing else to it.
"It's my responsibility to know the rules and regulations at all points and make sure I get that right. With that regard, I failed my team miserably.
"I hope we can find a way forward after this."
The 33-year-old American made his first comments since a technical inspection last weekend at Long Beach showed three Penske Racing cars, including his, had been tweaked to allow the restart violation.
Newgarden called the situation "embarrassing" and "demoralizing" and could see why no one would believe him about knowing nothing about the scandal until punishments were imposed Monday.
"I didn't leave St. Pete thinking we pulled something over on somebody. I didn't know that we did something wrong until this week," he said.
"I don't think any of us believe it will be believable to somebody. But it's the truth.
"I want to be held accountable for what I did and the actions I took, and I want to tell people the truth."
Team Penske, owned by IndyCar series owner Roger Penske, said the improper "push-to-pass" system was used for an engine test before the season and mistakenly kept on the cars into the campaign.
A technical inspection found the alterations and that led to punishments for the three-car team, including $25,000 fines for each driver.
Newgarden, who had been the season points leader, was stripped of his victory in March's season-opening IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Teammate Scott McLaughlin of New Zealand was disqualified from his third-place finish on the Florida streets for hitting the button for 1.9 seconds, a move he said came from habit.
"He's truly hitting it out of habit, which does happen," Newgarden said. "I hit the thing 29 times."
Australian Will Power, the third Penske driver, did not use the overtake button improperly and thus kept his fourth-place finish from St. Pete but was stripped of 10 points in the season title chase.
"While I accept the penalty, I want it to be known that I did nothing wrong and followed the rules," Power said in a statement.
Newgarden says he realizes it will take time to restore trust with rival drivers.
"I don't know how you do that," Newgarden said. "I don't know that anybody's going to believe me.
"Certainly not going to come from words. It's just going to take repetitive action. However long it takes, how many years, if I'm given the time, I'll just try to earn it through action."
- 'It wasn't taken well' -
Newgarden said he spoke with car owner Roger Penske about the matter.
"It wasn't taken well," Newgarden said of Penske's reaction.
Newgarden called his penalty fair.
"The integrity of the series is absolutely paramount. The series has to hold everybody accountable," he said. "They've done the right thing by trying to throw the book at us, and they should."
Newgarden fought back tears as he pondered the cheating storm around him ahead of defending his Indy 500 crown in May.
"I'm still happy," he said. "I'm excited. It should be good."
New Zealand's Scott Dixon, who won in Long Beach, replaced Newgarden atop the season points table with 79 ahead of Sunday's race in Birmingham, Alabama. Power is fifth on 59 with Newgarden 11th on 34.
T.Ward--AMWN