Team Penske faced significant repercussions on May 19, 2025, when both Josef Newgarden and Will Power were penalized during Indianapolis 500 qualifying for technical infractions. After failing post-qualifying inspection, Newgarden and Power were moved to the rear of the 33-car field—starting 32nd and 33rd, respectively—losing all previously secured qualifying positions, points, and preferred pit assignments.
Context: 2025 Indy 500 Qualifying Format
Indianapolis 500 qualifying unfolds over multiple rounds: an initial “Top 12” session (also known as Fast 12) determines positions 1–12, while the remaining entrants lock in starting spots 13–33 based on earlier speeds. Drivers who fail technical inspection before the Fast 12 session are barred from attempting further runs, leaving them slotted behind all competitors who passed into the Top 12.
Initial Inspection Failure and Top 12 Session Exclusion
On May 18, during the pre-Fast 12 technical inspection, both Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevrolet and Power’s No. 12 Chevrolet were found to have “illegal filling in the seams” of their rear-crash attenuators—modifications intended to improve aerodynamic flow, in violation of IndyCar rule 14.7.8.16. As a result, neither car was permitted to run in the Top 12 session, relegating them initially to provisional starting positions of 11th (Newgarden) and 12th (Power) behind Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Penske entry, which passed inspection and secured 10th.
Confirmation of Modified Attenuators and Rule Breach
IndyCar’s subsequent overnight investigation confirmed the suspicions: both cars featured modified attenuators, a spec part that must remain unaltered. Team Penske President Tim Cindric later acknowledged that seams in the attenuators had been filled to streamline airflow—though he denied any intent to gain a performance advantage. IndyCar referenced this as a clear breach of technical regulations designed to maintain parity across all entries.
Sanctions Imposed on Penske and Drivers
On the morning of May 19, IndyCar’s official penalty announcement stipulated that:
- Grid Penalty: Newgarden and Power would start 32nd and 33rd, respectively, at the start of the 109th Indy 500.
- Loss of Qualification Points: Both entries forfeited any points earned during qualifying—impacting Newgarden’s and Power’s championship tallies.
- Strategist Suspensions: Tim Cindric (Newgarden’s strategist) and Ron Ruzewski (Power’s strategist) were suspended for the remainder of the event.
- Fines: Team Penske was fined $100,000 per entry (totaling $200,000) for modifying spec parts.
- Pit Selection Penalty: Both cars lost their original pit selections and were permitted to choose pit boxes only after all other teams had made their choices.
Official Reactions and Team Statement
IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles emphasized the importance of enforcing technical standards to “maintain the integrity of the Indianapolis 500” and ensure fair competition. He noted that, although both cars had initially passed Saturday’s inspection and locked into the top 30 speeds, the post-qualifying findings were too significant to overlook.
In an official statement later on May 19, Team Penske stated, “We accept the penalties issued today by the INDYCAR SERIES which are due to a ‘Body Fit’ violation that occurred prior to the qualifying session yesterday. We are disappointed by the results and the impact it has on our organization,” pledging further personnel announcements ahead of race day.
Impact on Race Prospects
Starting from 32nd (Newgarden) and 33rd (Power) places Newgarden and Power at a considerable disadvantage for the 500-mile oval contest. Both drivers will need to rely on clean pit work, effective race strategy, and potential caution periods to navigate through traffic. Scott McLaughlin, in contrast, retained his 10th starting spot after being cleared in inspection, providing Penske with at least one front-running entry.
Broader Implications for IndyCar and Penske
This incident marks the second high-profile controversy for Team Penske in just over a year, reigniting debates over how stringently spec-car series should monitor and enforce technical compliance. While Penske’s cars had passed initial Saturday inspections, the post-qualifying discovery underscores IndyCar’s commitment to retrospective checks and punitive action when infractions are uncovered. The significant fines and strategist suspensions serve as a warning to all teams: even minor bodywork alterations can carry major competitive consequences.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
With the 109th Indianapolis 500 set to take the green flag on May 25, 2025, Team Penske’s efforts will focus on damage control—optimizing race-day strategy for Newgarden and Power and rallying behind McLaughlin’s top-10 start. Fans and observers will watch closely to see whether the two-time defending winner, Newgarden, and Power can overcome their grid setbacks to challenge for another Indianapolis crown.
