Da Costa stripped of Long Beach pole position

The Team Aguri driver was disqualified after post-qualifying checks revealed that his car’s tyre pressures were too low, after he had topped the Super Pole session.

Da Costa was the hero of qualifying, as his car relies purely on technology from season one against the more developed machines of rivals.

He will now start from the back of the grid.

"It's hard to swallow to be honest," he said. "I drove a good lap, very clean. All in vain, but rules are rules.

"The rear left was 0.05 too low than what's legally permitted. We just have to do a better job next time."

Sam Bird has been promoted to pole position, and been awarded the three points that go with it, with Lucas di Grassi moving up to the front row.

Points leader Sebastien Buemi will now start seventh, rather than eighth.

The new grid is as follows...

1	Sam Bird DS Virgin Racing
		2	Lucas di Grassi ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport
3	Stéphane Sarrazin Venturi
		4	Nick Heidfeld Mahindra Racing
5	Robin Frijns Andretti
		6	Daniel Abt ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport
7	Sébastien Buemi Renault e.dams
		8	Nicolas Prost Renault e.dams
9	Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dragon Racing
		10	Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing
11	Jean-Éric Vergne DS Virgin Racing
		12	Simona de Silvestro Andretti
13	Oliver Turvey NEXTEV TCR
		14	Nelson Piquet Jr. NEXTEV TCR
15	Mike Conway Venturi
		16	Salvador Duran Team Aguri
17	Loïc Duval Dragon Racing
		18	António Félix da Costa Team Aguri