The three Penske cars entered in the 109th Indianapolis 500 qualified in the Fast 12 on Saturday, but you won’t see any of them in the front row this year after they dominated those three spots in 2024.
A same-day practice crash prevented the No. 3 Pennzoil car, driven by Scott McLaughlin, last year’s pole winner, from requalifying on Sunday for the Fast Six and the coveted pole position. The No. 2 Shell car, driven by Josef Newgarden, and the No. 12 Verizon car, driven by Will Power, were disqualified for illegal modifications to their attenuator boxes.
Team Penske had applied a material to create a more aerodynamically efficient air flow over the attenuator’s seams to reduce drag. Rule 14.7.8.16 does allow for certain parts to be blended to reduce uneven surfaces and gaps in a list provided, but the attenuator box is not included.
Prior to qualifying on day two, each car must go through technical inspection again. Following tech, teams are only allowed to change the tire pressures and wing angles. Initially, the No. 12 car went through technical inspection, but the officials saw something, a body fit issue of the attenuator box, and allowed the No. 12 to go to pit lane while they verified the car wasn’t compliant.
When the No. 2 car went through inspection, the tech department notified the Penske team that they had the choice of pulling their cars from qualifying or making the run to likely be disqualified during post inspection.
With their cars sitting in pit lane, the Penske team was observed grinding the sealant material they applied to the attenuator. When the Technical Department notified them of their choices, the team rolled their two cars back to the garages with the drivers still sitting in the cockpits.
McLaughlin’s car, upon further inspection after his practice crash, did not have the attenuator box modification. The New Zealander will start 10th, based on his Saturday qualification time. The No. 2 and No. 12 cars, however, have been penalized and moved to the last row of the field to fill the 32nd and 33rd starting spots, respectively.
“The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear,” said INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles. “The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance.”
What’s refreshing to see is that Boles, newly appointed President of INDYCAR, did not show any favouritism to his boss’ team. Roger Penske owns INDYCAR and IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, of which Boles is also president).
The body fit infraction is also the second time in 13 months that Team Penske has been found in violation of the rules. Josef Newgarden used his Push to Pass illegally at the beginning of last season, winning the St. Petersburg race. The win was stripped from him, a fine imposed, and points forfeited.
In addition to now starting in the last row on the grid, the pit selection for the two Penske cars, pit boxes seven and eight, nearest pit out, were rescinded. Other teams made new pit selections, most moving up two spaces. Car No. 2 has moved to the 30th spot and car No. 12 has the 32nd spot, in front of Dreyer & Reinbold’s two cars at pit-in.
The teams were fined $100,000 each for the infractions. Additionally, the strategists, Team Penske INDYCAR President Tim Cindric on the No. 2 car, and Team Manager Ron Ruzewski on the No. 12 car, were suspended from participating in the 109th Indy 500.
“I’m totally disappointed with the outcome of Sunday,” Roger Penske told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “Going back 4.5 years, when I bought the series, I said number one, I would invest capital and get the best people. We would take the series and IMS to a new level by hiring people at a higher level. What I think about Team Penske, the organization, it failed two times. Believe me, it hurts me in my gut.
“There is a certain amount of credibility you have to have. It’s integrity, individually and collectively, in our team and this sport. I’ve let people down. I’ve made some management changes. We’ll move on and our goal is to win the race.”
Team Penske ultimately fired Cindric, Ruzewski, and General Manager Kyle Moyer. All three were strategists calling the races on the radio for the three drivers. Other Team Penske personnel will be assigned to fill the void they leave.
Some felt that the two penalized Penske cars should be eliminated, allowing Jacob Abel, driving for Dale Coyne, into the field; or that Abel should get a spot in the last row and allow the final spot for one of the two Penske cars. Although his speed was not one of the fastest 33 drivers, Abel’s car was legal.
Asked about Abel missing the 500, Pato O’Ward said, “you’re better off watching the race than racing 200 laps in a car that sucks. I was relieved when I didn’t make it (as a rookie driving for Carlin in 2019). We’re going fricking fast, and accidents can happen just in a blink of an eye.
“Those cars weren’t within the regulations,” continued O’Ward. “The rule is pretty black and white. Those cars should have been in the last chance qualifier. If they’re disqualified today (Sunday), they should have been disqualified yesterday (Saturday). It’s a shame, really, because they (Penske) don’t need to be doing that stuff. They’re a great team with great drivers. Why are they doing that? It makes no sense.”
“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months,” explained Boles. “We want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field. As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.”
Moving the two Penske cars to the last row of the field may only heighten the entertainment value of the race as they fight their way forward in an attempt to win the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ the Indianapolis 500. Race coverage starts live at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday on FOX & TSN 4, with the Green Flag estimated at 12:45 p.m. ET.
