Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden And Will Power To Start Last At Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS – In a shocking development announced at 11 a.m. EST on May 19, IndyCar officials assessed additional penalties sending two-time and back-to-back winner Josef Newgarden and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power to the back of the 33-car grid.

IndyCar issued a release at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

“IndyCar’s focus was ensuring that the series had all the facts related to the discovery of the modified attenuators on the Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 to verify they were in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16. After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by rule, the violating cars were placed in the last positions of the qualifying session for which they qualified.

“Upon further review last night and early this morning, IndyCar will be moving cars No. 2 and 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday.”

IndyCar President Doug Boles spoke of the additional penalties and why it was important to the event.

“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,” 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.”

Scott McLaughlin’s car No. 3 did not attempt to qualify Sunday in the Top 12 because of an accident in the earlier afternoon’s practice. Upon review of the car, and INDYCAR impounding the No. 3 attenuator, INDYCAR found that the car was in fact using a legal and unmodified attenuator. Therefore, car No. 3 will start in the 10th spot – the final spot of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12.

Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, both cars will forfeit Indianapolis 500 qualification points, and each entry was fined $100,000.

The race strategist for Josef Newgarden on the No. 2 is Team Penske IndyCar President Tim Cindric. The race strategist for Will Power on the No. 12 is Ron Ruzewski. Both were also suspended from the Indianapolis 500 in 2024 because of the “push-to-pass” scandal.

This is the second year in a row that Cindric and Ruzewski were suspended from the Indianapolis 500.

Car Nos. 2 and 12 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.

“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field,” Boles said. “As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.”