Harsher Penalties For Team Penske In Indianapolis 500

Going into qualifying day 2, Penske was a favorite for pole. Last year’s pole winner, Scott McLaughlin, looked incredibly fast, sitting second after day 1.

But a series of unfortunate events, a hard crash in practice for McLaughlin, and in an attempt to get creative with Josef Newgarden‘s No. 2  and Will Power‘s No. 12 cars, Penske has violated the rules and is now facing the consequences.

Initially starting from the 4th row or higher on the grid, they now find two cars dead last on the most important weekend of the season.

What happened?

During technical inspections, IndyCar had pointed out on the No. 2 car that a part of the attenuator – the upright assembly which holds up the rear wing – had been sealed and blended where there is a seam.  Modifying the part in such a way as to increase straight-line speed and reduce drag.

The No. 12 had the same modification and had already passed, but once it knew the officials didn’t like the 2 car, Penske elected to pull both cars out of line and out of top 12 qualifying.

Team Penske’s president of the IndyCar team, Tim Cindric, told Fox. “So, essentially, the #12 car actually passed inspection, and as the #2 car went through inspection, it was pointed out that basically the officials didn’t like what you saw on television there.”

“There was a blending there on the attenuator, and we decided, ‘Look, the #12 car, let’s go look at that,’ and the #12 car was the same way. So there was really no reason to run the #12 car, knowing that it was like the #2 car, and they didn’t like the #2 car.

There was an attempt to fix while in the pit lane, but it was decided that it was outside of what teams are allowed to do.

After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16, the violating cars were placed in the last positions of the qualifying session for which they qualified, which was 11th and 12th.

The Repercussions For Team Penske

This penalty was met with some backlash from drivers like Pato O’Ward. He didn’t hold back on where the two Team Penske cars should start.

“The rule is pretty black and white. Those cars should have been in the last chance qualifier. Like, those cars should have never — obviously they didn’t do anything in the Fast 12, but they should have been brought into the LCQ because they had that yesterday, I guarantee you. Until someone pointed it out today. Those cars, if they’re disqualified today, they should have been disqualified yesterday,” O’Ward said.

The series took the time and, upon further review, INDYCAR will be moving cars No. 2 and 12 to 32nd and 33rd.

“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.”

Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the No. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500; both cars will forfeit Indianapolis 500 qualification points, and each entry has been fined $100,000.

Cars No. 2 and 12 will also forfeit their pit positions. They will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has had an opportunity to adjust accordingly.