Kiwi Scott McLaughlin has dropped to second on IndyCar championship standings, after finishing 14th at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Entering the weekend with a 28-point lead over Australia's Will Power, McLaughlin started ninth on the grid and never contended over the 85 laps in California.
And while he collected 18 points towards his championship total, victory to Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden has seen McLaughlin drop to second place.
The Kiwi was dogged with issues before the race even began, after an engine fault in the day's warm-up session.
Then, on lap 35, while running in ninth place, he spun out on a turn, after clipping the wall, and rejoined in 25th position.
Polesitter Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport did not finish the race, after an accident on lap 56.
Newgarden's second successive victory gives him the championship lead with 115 points. McLaughlin won the season-opener at St Petersburg and finished second at Fort Worth in his second US season, after moving from Australia's Supercars in 2021.
But while the Grand Prix of Long Beach didn't fall McLaughlin's way, compatriot Scott Dixon enjoyed a better day at the office, finishing sixth, after starting 16th.
The result moves Dixon into fifth on the championship standings, 32 points behind Newgarden in his bid for a record-equalling seventh title.
The IndyCar season continues next month at Birmingham, Alabama.
