Roger Penske has taken action against the cheating scandal that has rocked IndyCar ahead of the Indianapolis 500. Penske has suspended the president of Team Penske, Tim Cindric, along with three others for the next two races. The scandal involved three Penske cars using a software system to gain a horsepower boost on starts and restarts, which is against the rules. Josef Newgarden, the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner, was stripped of his victory for his involvement in the scandal. Penske emphasized that there was no malicious intent, but rather a breakdown in internal processes and miscommunication within the team.
Cindric and Ron Ruzewski, along with two other team members, accepted responsibility for the scandal and the suspensions handed out to them. They acknowledged that it was their responsibility as team leaders to provide the right processes to prevent such incidents from occurring. The suspensions cover the upcoming race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and the Indianapolis 500. The penalties have been viewed as a significant impact on the team and individuals involved, with Penske aiming to move forward and remain competitive in the races. Penske expressed his support for Newgarden, stating that he needs to regain respect on the racetrack.
The scandal involved the push-to-pass function, controlled by IndyCar and disabled on starts and restarts to prevent the illegal use of extra horsepower. Newgarden admitted to using the software three times during the season-opener, believing there had been a rule change allowing it on restarts. The investigation revealed that the software had been in place since last August for testing purposes. The scandal resulted in Newgarden and another Penske driver being stripped of their podium finishes, fined, and docked points by IndyCar. Penske has been in damage control mode, recognizing the impact the incident has had on the sport. IndyCar is working to determine how the software went unnoticed during inspection in the first three races of the season.
Penske remains committed to Newgarden and is actively trying to sign the two-time IndyCar champion to a contract extension. Despite the scandal, Penske emphasized that the company has been the same for 50 years, and he is focused on moving forward. The suspensions handed out to the team members were based on their roles within the team, with no wrongdoing by Power’s crew members. Penske, who owns the race team, IndyCar, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has apologized for the errors made and the impact they have had on the sport. IndyCar has not had a disqualification in 29 years, making this scandal a significant event for the series. Penske is committed to resolving the issue and ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future.
The scandal has brought significant attention to IndyCar and the integrity of the sport. Penske’s actions in suspending key team members demonstrate his commitment to addressing the issue and maintaining the reputation of Team Penske. The upcoming races, including the prestigious Indianapolis 500, will be critical in showcasing the team’s ability to overcome the scandal and remain competitive. Newgarden’s performance on the racetrack will be closely watched as he seeks to regain the respect of his competitors. The focus now is on moving forward, learning from the mistakes made, and ensuring that the sport’s rules and regulations are upheld to preserve its integrity and competitiveness.
