INDYCAR Penalizes Josef Newgarden and Will Power for Indy 500

In a shocking turn, INDYCAR has penalized two-time defending Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden and his Penske teammate Will Power. The penalties shove them to the back of the field for the 109th Indy 500, suspend their race strategists for Sunday’s race, and slap the teams with a $100,000 fine for modifying spec parts.

This decision’s sent ripples through the racing world and stirred up big questions about fairness in the sport.

The Incident: What Happened?

INDYCAR officials found that Team Penske illegally filled the seams of the attenuator. Regulations strictly prohibit any modifications to this component.

The discovery happened before the Fast 12 qualifying session. INDYCAR responded with immediate penalties, including suspending strategists Tim Cindric and Ron Ruzewski for Newgarden and Power.

The Official Statement

Team Penske put out a statement showing their disappointment but said they’d accept the penalties. They admitted the violation took place before qualifying and said the change was meant to make the cars more aerodynamic.

Tim Cindric insisted the modification didn’t actually give them a performance boost, but rules are rules.

INDYCAR’s Response

INDYCAR President Doug Boles stressed the need to keep a level playing field. He said these penalties show INDYCAR takes rule-breaking seriously.

Boles explained that, at first, the cars kept their top-12 qualifying spots, but after another review, officials moved them to the back.

Why This Matters

This issue stings a bit more because team owner Roger Penske also owns the series. That overlap has sparked talk about whether an independent body should handle the rules.

Boles and Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles met with team owners to try to reassure them that future issues would be dealt with fairly.

The Repercussions

The penalties hit hard for the race. Newgarden and Power now have to start from the back, sharing Row 11 with Rinus VeeKay.

This setback doesn’t just hurt their chances on Sunday—it puts a spotlight on Team Penske’s internal practices.

Team Penske’s Track Record

This isn’t the first time Team Penske’s been hit with penalties. Last year, Newgarden lost his St. Petersburg win, and teammate Scott McLaughlin got disqualified for having push-to-pass engaged on restarts.

These incidents have only brought more scrutiny to the team and how it operates.

Reactions from the Racing Community

Other team owners have voiced doubts about the fairness of these penalties. Arrow McLaren owner Zak Brown said the situation raises questions about Team Penske’s decision-making.

Chip Ganassi also weighed in, saying it’s crucial to uphold the sport’s integrity, especially for a team with such a long history.

Future Implications

The incident has sparked more talk about whether there should be an independent group overseeing rule enforcement. INDYCAR officials claim they’ve handled things right, but the racing world doesn’t seem totally convinced.

Some think the penalties might not go far enough, while others worry about the precedent it sets.

For more details, check out the full article on Fox Sports.

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