Diuguid Explains No. 6 Porsche Wiring Loom Infraction at Indy

Photo: Jordan Lenssen/Porsche

Porsche Penske Motorsport managing director Jonathan Diugiud has revealed the extent of the technical infraction that stripped its No. 6 Porsche 963 from a podium finish in last month’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and likely championship contention in the GTP class.

The Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy-driven Porsche was one of two cars to have faced penalties following the most recent IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round following an extended technical inspection process by the sanctioning body, which was announced immediately following the checkered flag of the race.

Diuguid said they were “fully in support” of IMSA’s process and were not expecting to have any issues with its car.

“Entering that process, none of us inside the group were nervous about anything or concerned,” he said. “Ultimately, the outcome was [that] IMSA through the process found that a homologation procedure hadn’t been followed.”

He explained that the stated wiring harness/loom that was out of compliance was specifically the right-hand sidepod loom that feeds the leader light panel and transponder.

Diuguid said the component, which had no impact on performance, was not in compliance due to a “procedural process” that wasn’t followed for an update to the length of the routing loom.

“It was updated on the PPM cars and ultimately not done on the customer cars,” he explained. “While it was disappointing, the process and the rules and the regulation exist.”

When asked if the penalty fits the violation, Diuguid said he remained supportive of IMSA standing by the rules.

“Ultimately, the regulations are written the way they are,” he said. “Whether I think it’s fair or not is irrelevant.

“I think IMSA definitely did their due diligence and made sure that they applied the penalty in line with previous precedents they had set.

“Even within the 2024 season, I think there were some other penalties that quoted the same regulation, and those penalties were in line, and obviously Acura fell afoul of the same regulation too as well.

“So I feel like IMSA applied the penalty in line with what they had done previously, whether or not I think it’s fair or is irrelevant.”

He added: “I think the main takeaway for us is these homologation processes and documents are extremely complicated and complex. We’re talking about three to four hundred pages of information.

“Unfortunately in our case, the procedure wasn’t followed as it was outlined and it came up as part of this additional inspection.

“So I don’t fault IMSA for anything that they did as much as I might not like it, but I think they applied the regulations as they were written.”

Diuguid said all Porsche 963s, including the cars competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, will be outfitted with the same style wiring loom that was on the No. 6 car, with the German manufacturer currently going through the homologation process.

“For Road Atlanta, all the Porsche 963s are going to run the exact same right-hand side pod loom that the No. 6 car raced in Indy,” he said.

“So, between the Indy race and now, we’ll have completed the procedural process that was required to make that loom quote-unquote legal. But it’s no physical change to the loom whatsoever. It’s just filling out the paperwork, basically.”

When asked by Sportscar365 if the larger points gap between the two leading cars in the GTP championship, from 14 pre-penalty to 124 post-penalty, will have an affect on the race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Diuguid said it hasn’t changed the team’s approach.

“Honestly, the 7 car was going to be leading the points regardless of what the outcome was,” he said.

“I think they were the clear favorite in capturing the championship, which is ultimately the goal of the program.

“I don’t necessarily think it changes the approach. I think we’re going to go into the race doing the same thing we’ve been doing all year and try to come out victorious in the end, which if we do our job, shouldn’t be an issue.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John