Indy 500 Shake-Up: Ericsson Demoted, Andretti and Prema Penalized
The 2025 Indianapolis 500 has been hit by a wave of post-race penalties that have shaken up the results. Marcus Ericsson, who crossed the line in second, got bumped down to 31st after officials flagged technical infractions.
His Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood and Prema’s Callum Ilott suffered similar fates. IndyCar’s decision here is pretty much unheard of, and it’s left the racing world buzzing.
Marcus Ericsson’s Devastating Penalty
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Ericsson’s second-place finish already stung after Alex Palou edged him out in the final laps. But things went from bad to worse when post-race checks uncovered illegal aerodynamic tweaks on his car.
He’s now been dropped to 31st, which is a massive hit to his hopes in the championship hunt.
Details of the Infraction
IndyCar officials found modified Dallara-supplied energy management system (EMS) covers and altered cover-to-A-arm mounting points on Ericsson’s car. They spotted unapproved spacers and other parts that shouldn’t have been there.
IndyCar usually sticks to fines and points deductions for stuff like this, so this move really stands out.
Impact on Andretti Autosport
The trouble didn’t end with Ericsson. Kyle Kirkwood, who finished sixth, also got dropped down the order to 32nd for similar aero violations.
Each car picked up a $100,000 fine, and both team managers are sitting out the next race in Detroit.
Andretti’s Response
Andretti Autosport says it’ll ask IndyCar for a full review. The team wants more time to wrap its head around what happened and plans to push for clarity on the penalties.
It’s a tough spot, and you can sense how seriously they’re taking it.
Callum Ilott and Prema’s Penalty
Callum Ilott, who finished 12th for Prema, didn’t escape the penalty wave either. Officials found his car broke rules on “minimum endplate height and location specification.”
He’s now classified 33rd, and Prema is facing the same fines and suspensions as Andretti.
Technical Details
The specific problem was the endplate’s height and placement—it just didn’t match the specs. That’s a big penalty for Ilott and Prema, and it throws a wrench into their championship plans.
Changes in Championship Standings
The penalties have scrambled the championship standings. David Malukas from Foyt jumps up to second, and McLaren’s Pato O’Ward grabs third.
It’s a big shakeup for the fight behind Alex Palou.
Key Movements
- David Malukas: Up to second place.
- Pato O’Ward: Now third, closing Palou’s lead to 112 points.
- Santino Ferrucci: Moves to fifth, so Foyt has two drivers in the top five.
Kyle Kirkwood, who was right on Palou’s heels, is now trailing by 150 points. The title race just got a lot more unpredictable.
IndyCar’s Policing Under Scrutiny
All these penalties have put IndyCar’s technical rules under a microscope. The Penske controversy isn’t helping, either.
Turns out, illegal parts found on 2023/24 winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s cars had been around since last year, and people are starting to question how thorough these inspections really are.
Recent Controversies
During the event, Penske’s cars got busted for illegal parts and sent to the back for qualifying. Now, with Andretti and Prema caught up in it too, the whole scene feels a bit chaotic.
It’s definitely raised eyebrows about how IndyCar handles technical regulations and inspections. You have to wonder what’s next.
The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will stick in people’s minds, and not just because of a wild finish. The race brought some of the harshest post-race penalties in recent memory.
Marcus Ericsson, Kyle Kirkwood, and Callum Ilott all got hit with heavy consequences for technical infractions. Those penalties flipped the race results and shook up the championship standings.
If you want a deeper dive into the penalties and how they changed things, check out the full article on The Race.
