Indy 500 Shocker: Marcus Ericsson Penalized to 31st After Inspection

The 2025 Indy 500 will be remembered for more than just the thrilling race that saw Alex Palou take the checkered flag. The post-race drama took over when Marcus Ericsson, who crossed the line in second, got disqualified along with two other drivers for technical infractions.

What looked like a spectacular finish for Ericsson turned into a nightmare. Officials found illegal modifications on his Andretti Global car, dropping him all the way to 31st place.

This decision didn’t just shake up the results—it hit the teams involved with tough financial and reputational consequences.

Marcus Ericsson’s Heartbreaking Disqualification

Ericsson was just about to celebrate a hard-fought second-place finish at the Indy 500, which could’ve meant a payday north of $1 million. But after the race, inspectors found that his Andretti Global car had unauthorized tweaks to the hybrid unit covers.

Those changes gave his car a bit more aerodynamic efficiency. The penalty? Disqualification and a brutal drop to 31st place.

Instead of a million-dollar reward, Ericsson walked away with just over $500,000. That’s got to sting.

Other Disqualified Drivers

Ericsson wasn’t the only one caught out. His teammate, Kyle Kirkwood, who finished sixth on the road, had similar modifications and got bumped down to 32nd.

Callum Ilott, driving for Prema, got disqualified too. His car’s front wing endplate didn’t meet height and location specs, so his 12th-place finish vanished, and he fell to 33rd.

Financial and Reputational Fallout

The disqualifications came with a heavy price tag. All three teams lost the race winnings they would’ve earned from their top-12 finishes.

Each team also faced a $100,000 fine, and their team managers got suspended for one race. Ericsson’s financial hit was especially harsh, missing out on that second-place prize money.

Impact on Andretti Global and Prema

Andretti Global, a name that carries a lot of weight in IndyCar, took a big hit with both Ericsson and Kirkwood disqualified. The team lost out on prize money and had to deal with their team manager’s suspension.

Prema, another respected squad, faced a similar struggle after Ilott’s disqualification and the financial penalties that followed. Not exactly the kind of press any team wants.

IndyCar’s Strict Enforcement of Rules

IndyCar showed it won’t hesitate to enforce its technical rules, no matter who’s involved. Officials said the modifications on the Andretti and Prema cars gave an unfair advantage, so they came down hard to make a point.

Previous Infractions and Team Penske’s Controversy

All this happened not long after another mess involving Team Penske. Josef Newgarden and Will Power had their cars flagged for illegal attenuator modifications before qualifying, costing them their starting spots for the Indy 500.

Turns out, those modified attenuators had been in use since the previous year. That revelation didn’t help the team’s reputation, to put it mildly.

Roger Penske’s Response

Roger Penske, who owns both Team Penske and the IndyCar Series, didn’t waste time responding. He fired his three most senior IndyCar team leaders, saying integrity and credibility matter above all else.

In a Fox Sports interview, Penske sounded genuinely disappointed. He promised to win back fans’ trust in his team and the series.

Restoring Credibility

Penske’s reaction feels like part of a larger push in IndyCar to keep everyone honest. The penalties for Andretti Global, Prema, and Team Penske send a clear message: cheating just isn’t worth it.

The Future of IndyCar

The 2025 Indy 500 will echo for a long time. The disqualifications and harsh penalties really put the spotlight on fair play and strict rule enforcement.

Teams now know they’ll have to watch every detail if they want to avoid similar trouble down the line.

A Lesson for All Teams

What happened serves as a warning for every team in the IndyCar paddock. The financial and reputational hits for Andretti Global, Prema, and Team Penske show just how high the stakes are.

If teams want to stay clear of disaster, they’ll need to put transparency and rule-following first—even if it means giving up a small edge.

Conclusion

The 2025 Indy 500 didn’t just deliver a wild race—it rattled fans with major post-race penalties that shook up the final results. Marcus Ericsson lost his place, and so did Kyle Kirkwood and Callum Ilott.

Honestly, those disqualifications hit hard. They really drive home how strict the technical rules are in motorsport.

The teams took a hit, both financially and in reputation. It’s a tough reminder that fair play isn’t just a slogan; it’s the whole game.

If you want to dig deeper, check out the full article on The New York Times.