Team Penske’s Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Setback
Indianapolis, IN — In a surprising turn of events during the qualifying rounds for the 109th Indianapolis 500, Team Penske found itself without a contender for pole position. Scott McLaughlin’s crash in morning practice severely damaged his primary car, while teammates Josef Newgarden and Will Power faced disqualification from qualifying attempts due to technical violations.
Incident Summary:
As qualifying approached, both Newgarden’s #2 and Power’s #12 Chevrolet were unexpectedly withdrawn from the pit lane. IndyCar’s technical director, Kevin Blanch, clarified the reasons for this action, stating, "There was a body fit violation on the rear attenuator." This led to both cars being pulled from contention just minutes before the Fast 12 qualifying session commenced.
Team Response:
Tim Cindric, president of Team Penske, elaborated on the incident to IndyCar on FOX. He explained that while Power’s car had initially passed inspection, issues were identified with Newgarden’s car, which led the team to check Power’s vehicle as well. "It was the same issue; hence, there was no reason to run the #12 car," Cindric stated. He noted an inconsistency within the team regarding the inspection process, which contributed to their current predicament.
Cindric further mentioned that they believed they could address the detected issues in the pit lane, but this was ultimately deemed outside the rules.
Starting Grid Positions:
As a result of the inspection failures and McLaughlin’s crash, all three Team Penske drivers will start from Row 4. McLaughlin will begin in 10th place, Newgarden in 11th, and Power in 12th, based on their qualifying times from Saturday.
The team now faces significant challenges heading into one of motorsports’ most prestigious events, aiming to overcome this setback and capitalize on their race-day performance.
