Penske Team Suspended Amidst IndyCar Cheating Scandal
Unveiling the Unfair Advantage
Four key members of the Penske Racing team have been handed two-race suspensions by the team’s owner, Roger Penske, following a cheating scandal that rocked the NTT IndyCar series in March.
Behind the Curtain: The Incident
During the race in Florida, Penske driver Josef Newgarden, along with three other team members, exploited a loophole in the software controlling the push-to-pass system. This unfair advantage allowed them to gain an illegal horsepower boost on restarts, a violation of the series regulations.
A Calculated Penalty
The suspension, effective immediately, will see Penske president Tim Cindric, team managing director Ron Ruzewski, engineer Luke Mason, and senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson miss the iconic Indy 500 race on Memorial Day Weekend.
Internal Review: Penske’s Explanation
Penske conducted an internal investigation and concluded that, while there was no “malicious intent,” the incident stemmed from a miscommunication and breakdown in internal processes. However, the findings revealed that the Penske cars used a software system to achieve the illegal horsepower boost.
Investigative Uncovering
IndyCar’s investigation further uncovered that the software had been in use since the season opener, with Newgarden using it to his advantage on three occasions. Newgarden claimed he believed a rule change had made the push-to-pass system legal on restarts, while teammate Scott McLaughlin asserted that he pressed the button out of habit and gained no advantage from the brief horsepower boost.
Consequences Beyond the Track
In addition to the suspensions, Newgarden and McLaughlin were stripped of their podium finishes in the Florida race. All three suspended team members were slapped with ,000 fines and lost 10 points each in the championship standings.
Penske’s Dual Role
Penske holds a unique position, owning not only Team Penske but also the IndyCar Series and its most renowned venue, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This dual role has sparked questions about the potential for bias in the investigation and disciplinary measures.
Contributing Voice
The Associated Press played a crucial role in bringing this report to light, contributing valuable insights into the investigation and the suspensions that followed.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
