IndyCar is currently being shaken by a scandal with Josef Newgarden at its core.
The race engineer of ex-F1 hopeful Josef Newgarden is one of four senior Penske employees – including the team’s president and managing director – to have been suspended in light of the huge controversy unfolding in IndyCar.
In the March opening round of the 2024 IndyCar season in St Petersburg, Newgarden emerged as the victor. However, last month, he and his Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin were disqualified from the results due to their utilization of the push-to-pass overtaking aid during restarts.
Latest development in IndyCar controversy
Penske indicated that the presence of faulty software in the car, which was not removed from pre-season testing, was a mistake. This software, known as push to pass, provides an additional 60 horsepower to the engine but is not allowed during restarts.
After Newgarden’s emotional explanation for his illegal use of push to pass, Team Penske announced on Tuesday that four key members of the team – including Newgarden’s race engineer Luke Mason, team president Tim Cindric and managing director Ron Ruzewski – have been punished following an internal review. Senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson has also been suspended.
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All four individuals will be absent from this month’s highly esteemed Indianapolis 500 race, considered the pinnacle event of the IndyCar season, due to a two-race suspension.
Team Penske has conducted an internal review subsequent to the penalties imposed on their INDYCAR team and drivers following the Long Beach event.
“Following an extensive and thorough examination of the data, Team Penske has concluded that our processes and internal communications suffered notable shortcomings.”
Luke Mason, the No. 2 Race Engineer, and Robbie Atkinson, the Senior Data Engineer, will be suspended from Team Penske for the upcoming two INDYCAR races, which includes the prestigious Indianapolis 500.
Furthermore, Ron Ruzewski, the Managing Director of Team Penske INDYCAR, will face a suspension for the upcoming two races. Similarly, Tim Cindric, the President of Team Penske responsible for overseeing all operations, will also be suspended.
In a statement issued by Mr. Cindric through Team Penske, it was conveyed that as leaders of this team, Ron and he believe their success lies not in what they accomplished, but rather in what they refrained from doing.
“We hold the responsibility of implementing appropriate procedures to prevent occurrences like this, ensuring the well-being of our team and drivers. Therefore, I sincerely apologize to Roger Penske, our team, and all our supporters.”
“Our primary duty is to safeguard and elevate the reputation of our brand, as well as that of our supporters. In this respect, as the leader in charge, I acknowledge my failure and take responsibility alongside the rest.”
“In my role, it is the appropriate course of action to acknowledge that we are a team.”
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