Team Penske crew members have also been suspended
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the final round of Indy 500 qualifying.
Will Power cleared the inspection line and he was pushed to the grid. Meanwhile, teammate Josef Newgarden failed pre qualifying tech inspection.
The team plugged a seam on the attenuator. That’s a modification that’s not allowed.
Violation: INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16
Team Penske was told that since Power cleared inspection, he would be able to turn a lap. However, they also noted that the car would be disqualified after the run. The team elected not to qualify either car as they both had the same violation, despite Power clearing tech.
After the round of 12, it appeared that Newgarden would start 10th and Power would start 11th.
Scott McLaughlin, the other Team Penske machine crashed in the Sunday morning practice. That entry did not take part in qualifying. However, the car was inspected and the attenuator did not have the same modification as the Newgarden and Power machines.
Indycar issues penalties, fines and suspensions
On Monday, Indycar issued steep penalties to Team Penske.
The No. 2 and 12 will be moved to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions. They’ll be starting last on the field.
Pit positions have also been taken away from both teams. Each team will not pick last, after the entire field has selected a pit stall.
Team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 have been suspended for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500. All qualifying points have been taken away from both teams.
Additionally, Indycar has issued a $100,000 fine to each entry. That brings the total Team Penske fine to $200,000.
Indy 500 Starting Grid: May 2025 (Indycar)
INDYCAR President comments
“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,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said.
“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.”
“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and 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.”
Boles added, “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.”
Team Penske details the Indy 500 infraction
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Josef Newgarden | Will Power | Team Penske | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indycar
