INDYCAR Drops the Hammer on Penske: Technical Violations Result in Major Penalties Ahead of Indy 500

In a stunning development just days before the Indianapolis 500, INDYCAR has handed down penalties to Team Penske’s No. 2 and No. 12 entries for using modified attenuators in violation of Rule 14.7.8.16. As confirmed in an official release Monday morning, the team’s infractions have led to a reshuffling of the starting grid and serious financial and strategic consequences.

After a technical review, INDYCAR ruled that the cars driven by Josef Newgarden (No. 2) and Will Power (No. 12) qualified using equipment that didn’t meet the “as supplied” requirement. As a result, both entries have been moved to the back of the grid, starting 32nd and 33rd respectively for Sunday’s race. Despite their top-12 qualifying speeds, the rule mandates that any technical infraction must result in drivers being placed at the tail of the session in which they qualified.

“The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount,” 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.”

Meanwhile, Penske’s No. 3 entry driven by Scott McLaughlin, was cleared after INDYCAR impounded the car and verified it had a legal, unmodified attenuator. McLaughlin, who did not participate in Top 12 qualifying due to an earlier crash, will start in the 10th position.

The consequences don’t stop there. INDYCAR has suspended the team strategists for both penalized cars for the remainder of the Indy 500 event, fined each team $100,000, and stripped them of all Indy 500 qualifying points. They’ll also lose their previously earned pit positions, allowing the rest of the field to shift accordingly.

Boles emphasized that INDYCAR’s recent growth in momentum and credibility must be protected. “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,” he said.

As the week builds toward the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, this incident throws a cloud over the Penske camp. But one thing’s for sure: the field is set, the rules are being enforced, and INDYCAR isn’t pulling punches when it comes to fairness on racing’s biggest stage.