On Monday morning, the IndyCar community was shaken by significant news regarding Team Penske’s performance at the prestigious Indianapolis 500. Josef Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevrolet and Will Power’s No. 12 Chevrolet were both relegated to the back of the starting grid for the 109th installment of the race. This decision came with hefty repercussions: each team faced a $100,000 fine, and their race strategists, Tim Cindric and Ron Ruzewski, received suspensions due to a violation involving an unauthorized adjustment to the cars’ rear attenuators.
The violation stemmed from a modification that involved filling and smoothing out a component, which was deemed a breach of the rules. Initially, both cars were slated to start on Row 4 after their performances in the Fast 12 qualifying. However, the situation took a dramatic turn following the discovery of the illegal modifications.
### The Case of Scott McLaughlin
In contrast to Newgarden and Power, Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Chevrolet did not face penalties, despite being involved in a serious incident during practice that resulted in significant damage. Series officials examined the attenuator from the No. 3 car as well, and Doug Boles, the president of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), clarified why McLaughlin was not penalized.
“We have the attenuators from all three cars,” Boles stated. “The #3 car’s attenuator from the crash, with the damaged wing still attached, was provided to us. That attenuator was not modified in any way. Therefore, when the #3 car took the track, it was equipped with an attenuator that complied with all regulations outlined in the IndyCar Competition Rule Book. Consequently, the #3 car will start in the 10th position, remaining in the Fast 12 without any additional penalties.”
### The Situation with Jacob Abel
Another point of contention arose regarding Jacob Abel, the sole driver unable to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. There were suggestions that Abel should replace one of the penalized Penske cars in the 33-car lineup. However, Boles firmly disagreed, emphasizing the integrity of the qualifying process.
“The 33 fastest cars are competing in the Indianapolis 500,” he asserted. “All vehicles passed technical inspections on Saturday. There was no reason to question their validity. Thus, the qualification results from Saturday should remain unchanged. On Sunday, we confirmed that the modified cars did not meet the criteria for the Fast 12. The rules state that if a car is disqualified from the Fast 12, it should start in positions 12 and 11. We have taken it a step further by moving them to the back of the field. I genuinely feel for Jacob Abel. He’s committed his entire season to this race. I understand the importance of this event to Dale Coyne, and while we often debate the concept of guaranteed starting spots at the Indy 500, I don’t believe the results should be altered in this case.”
### Roger Penske’s Perspective
The situation posed a challenging dilemma for Roger Penske, the owner of the two penalized cars and the operator of IndyCar itself. This incident was not the first controversy involving Penske cars since he took over the series, with previous issues like the 2024 push-to-pass (P2P) debate also raising eyebrows. Boles shared insights into Penske’s reaction to the unfolding events.
“I’ve known Roger Penske for a long time, and I’ve grown closer to him since November 2019,” Boles noted. “It’s important to understand that Roger may not be aware of every detail happening within the organization. I recognize the optics of this situation, and it’s something we must carefully navigate. While many challenges ultimately rest with Roger, there are numerous occurrences that do not reach him. I can assure you that Roger Penske does not support this behavior. In fact, I had the opportunity to speak with him, and it was clear that he found this situation disheartening. Nothing is more important to Roger than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. His passion for racing is unparalleled, and this incident is something he will need to address.”
Boles explained that the decision to penalize Team Penske came from a collaborative effort among officials, including himself and IndyCar CEO Mark Miles. He emphasized that Roger Penske had no involvement in the decision-making process regarding the penalties.
“I barely slept last night,” Boles confessed. “You might not be able to tell, but I didn’t even shower this morning. My hair is a mess. The very first thing I did today was reach out to Mark. We both recognized the gravity of the situation and began discussing how best to maintain the integrity of the Indianapolis 500.”
### Clarifying the Timeline of Events
Boles also sought to clarify the sequence of events leading to the penalties, as some details had caused confusion. He confirmed that officials had initially suspected Power’s attenuator was modified during technical inspection but were unsure. As more cars proceeded through inspection, it became evident that Newgarden’s attenuator was similarly altered, raising immediate concerns.
“At that moment, Kevin Blanch, our technical director, instructed the car chief of #2 [Newgarden] to contact the car chief of #12 [Power] and have them move aside,” Boles elaborated. “This was because the attenuator on that car was also found to be illegal.”
Following this, there was a flurry of activity as the Penske team began working on their cars in the pit lane, which provoked objections from rival teams. Boles explained that while it’s not a common practice, it is not unusual for a technical team to inspect a teammate’s car when a violation is suspected.
“The tech team performed their duties as expected,” Boles said. “Some confusion arose on pit lane when members of the No. 12 car began to grind on the back of the attenuator, which had been modified. This led to rumors circulating about the situation, but the primary goal was to assess the facts accurately.”
The Penske team was informed that they could still qualify, but it was likely they would face disqualification during post-qualifying inspection. “The team chose to withdraw from the line, opting to avoid qualifying and risk being disqualified for certain during the technical inspection,” Boles concluded.
This incident has highlighted the intense scrutiny and high stakes involved in the Indy 500, one of the most prestigious events in motorsport. The implications of the penalties will have lasting effects, not only for Team Penske but also for the integrity of the sport as it moves forward. The focus now shifts to the race itself, as fans and teams alike await the unfolding drama of the Indianapolis 500.
