“Thrown through the mud” - Penske drivers react to Indy 500 penalty saga

Credit: Paul Hurley

Sadness. Silence. Defiance in defence. 

Facing the media for the first time since a bout of firings within the leadership group after illegalities found on two of the team’s cars in qualifying for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, each of Team Penske’s three drivers took a different approach. 

The departures of team president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski and general manager Kyle Moyer - each also strategists across Penske’s three cars - were announced on Wednesday. The move came in the wake of IndyCar moving the offending No.2 and No.12 entries of Josef Newgarden and Will Power to the rear of the field for the Indy 500.

Believed to have no performance gain but a compromise to safety, Penske were found to have modified the cars’ attenuators in a bid to smoothen the part, which is intended to dissipate energy in a rearward impact. 

The saga reignited talk of an optics issue surrounding Roger Penske’s ownership of both Team Penske and the IndyCar Series. Scott McLaughlin, who was not carrying the infringed modification, was the most outspoken of the team’s trio of drivers on Indy 500 Media Day. 

“I’m disappointed in some of my peers and people in this [media] room - just how it was taken out of proportion in some ways,” McLaughlin said. “I think people forget just what Roger’s done for this sport in general and that definitely gets thrown to the side a little bit, which I find a hard time not being passionate about.” 

McLaughlin acknowledged the belief that other teams have been involved in raising the illegalities to IndyCar but feels it is unfair that Penske’s integrity has been drawn into question throughout the course of recent days. 

“Ultimately what’s done is done. This happened. We have to move forward. The penalties are accepted,” he conceded. “I’m not calling anyone out. There are [people pointing things out]. There are. That’s part of the game. I get it. That’s racing. That’s how it is. 

“I’m disappointed with how Roger’s name has been thrown through the mud - his integrity, our team, the people on the floor, the people that spend hours away from their families trying to build these cars. Basically they’re being thrown to the mud. I take that personally.”

Credit: Joe Skibinski

Cindric and Ruzewski were both suspended for the Indy 500 by IndyCar in the wake of the technical infraction. The pair also missed May last year following internal sanctions from Penske after a push-to-pass violation saw Newgarden and McLaughlin disqualified from the season-opening race in St. Petersburg. 

But this time around, Penske took it one step further. And it came as a surprise to the drivers that three integral figures within the team lost their jobs on the week of the biggest race of the year. Power, 2018 Indy 500 winner, feels external factors figured into that move.

“It’s kind of a shock and a pity,” he admitted. “They’re all extremely good at their job. It was just the pressure from outside. I guess Roger had to make a tough decision but I can tell you these were very credible people. They really were. 

“The infraction was very minor. It wasn’t a performance gain.”

Considering confidence that the illegal modification was not made for performance-benefitting purposes, McLaughlin is frustrated that it has led to the sackings of people who have been crucial to his IndyCar career. 

“Smart people in this paddock know there was no gain with that,” he said. “It’s frustrating that this is blown up like it has and it’s cost three people that I’m very close with their jobs.

“Ultimately, those three guys are friends of mine and have done a tremendous amount in my career to get me to this point. I guess you could say there’s a sadness from my perspective. 

“At the end of the day, I drive for Roger Penske. I respect the decision. I understand the decision. We move forward.”

While Power did not shirk the topic and McLaughlin went head-on in his response, Newgarden took a back seat. From the outset in his Thursday media availability, he made it clear he did not want to talk about the situation in any expansive fashion.

And you cannot blame him. Newgarden is bidding to become the first driver to win three successive Indy 500s this week and, after all, the drivers had no part in the infraction. 

Credit: Titus Slaughter

“I don’t want to disappoint or offend anybody… I’m here to talk about the race,” Newgarden insisted. “I’m here with my team. I’m ready to go racing. I love this race. My goodness, I’ve been enjoying being here this whole time. I look forward to it every year, as we all do. Ready to go to work with our group. Proud of everything that we have done up to this point.” 

When asked whether the penalty was fair, Newgarden was similarly tight-lipped.

“I just see a bigger mountain,” he said. “That’s all I see.”

No doubt, having such a sudden shuffle of senior personnel pivotal to the Penske operation and its success will have rocked the team. But the drivers are attempting to manage their emotions and shut out the noise.

“Right now I’m - what’s the way to put this - trying to remain happy,” Newgarden admitted. “Well, it’s a little cold to be happy today. A little gloomy. I think the weather is going to help [Friday], Saturday and Sunday.”

With the benefit of experience, Power is also trying to focus solely on the on-track task at hand and 200 laps ahead on Sunday.

“You can’t be distracted by all this,” he said. “My main focus is Sunday and that’s true. I’m not too swept up in it. I’ve got plenty of time after the race to think about that. But we’re coming up on the biggest race of the year for us. 

“I feel like everyone on the team is positive and very motivated. I think being the driver you need to show that this is not affecting you and you’re very focused on the job at hand. And I am. I am. I haven’t allowed too much emotional stress to take away energy that I need on Sunday. Tough situation but we’ve still got a job to do.”

Power learned about the changes by being called into Penske’s ‘RP1’ office. Newgarden was travelling so was informed via a phone call.

Credit: James Black

“I know it was very tough for [Penske],” Power explained. “He said that. It’s obviously a very tough decision to make. He said he didn’t sleep the night before because he had to make a very hard decision. I feel bad for him. He’s in a very tough spot in that situation. 

“It wasn’t really a long conversation with us. He just explained what happened. You could tell it was heavy on him. Tough for him to have to do that.”

Power called Ruzewski, who was his strategist, in the aftermath of the decision. It is not lost on the drivers the success that those departing brought but there is optimism that the team will adapt accordingly.

“They’re all extremely good people, great at their job, won a lot of races, championships, created an incredible team. A real pity,” Power said. “I think Roger moves forward very quickly. I know him over the years, he makes decisions, he moves forward, doesn’t dwell on it, starts looking at what is absolutely best for the team and everyone to move forward. 

“That’s Roger. That’s why he’s so successful. He’s not going to sit and spend a month worrying about what happened. He’s: ‘How can we fix this? And let’s move forward and make sure it doesn’t happen again.’”

Newgarden and McLaughlin’s race engineers Luke Mason and Ben Bretzman have stepped up to the strategist role for the Indy 500, with the vacant lead engineer roles filled by Raul Prados and Malcolm Finch. Jonathan Diuguid, who won the Indy 500 in a temporary role on Newgarden’s car last year, is Power’s strategist for the event.

“They’re all very capable people on each car,” Power said. “It wouldn’t have mattered who they went with. I got Jonathan Diuguid, who is extremely experienced and has been an engineer and run Indy cars before. Between Dave and Jonathan, those two guys are incredibly smart and understand strategy, everything. 

“It’s a very strong group for all three cars.”

Credit: Dana Garrett

Power admitted Penske asked for his input on replacements and held discussions with engineers about the best way to handle deciding on the additions - currently only confirmed for the Indy 500. Newgarden was more tight-lipped about his influence.

“Roger Penske is the boss,” he stated. “It’s his team. That’s a question for him.”

Newgarden did say engineer-come-strategist Mason, who he affectionately calls ‘Lucas’, is going to slot into his role without issue.

“Luke is going to be just fine,” he said. “He’s one of the most naturally-gifted race engineers I’ve ever met. I’m always excited when he’s on the stand. It will be no different on Sunday.”

Power’s lead engineer David Faustino remains in his existing role but has been burdened with some more obligations since the suspensions and subsequent moves taken by Penske.

“We have to be very good with finding time to sit down and make sure we don’t weaken the programme or our potential for this weekend,” Power admitted. “Everyone is positive in the team. They understand this is the biggest race of the year.

“It’s just an incredible number of circumstances that just you would never have dreamed of would play out like this. It’s just crazy. That’s Indianapolis.”

On McLaughlin’s side, losing strategist Moyer is a blow, especially considering his No.3 car was not carrying the illegal modification. But he has one of the tightest-knit team-driver relationships with his ‘Thirsty 3s’ squad, particularly with engineer Bretzman, who is stand-in strategist for the weekend.

“He’s one of my best friends,” McLaughlin explained. “It sounds crazy but we play a lot of video games together, we talk together all the time, we hang out. I’m excited to work with Ben. Even on test days he takes over that part of the role. 

“It’s not an unknown voice that I’m hearing. I’m excited to work with Ben even closer than I have before. I think we’ve got amazing people coming in from a substitute perspective.”

“My view on it right now is just to focus forward and win Roger his 21st [Indy 500]. I tell you what, there’s that much motivation in our garage, within the team, within my stand.”

Credit: Chris Owens

Motivation is certainly rife within the team.

“Not really out to get anyone,” Power said. “It’s the circumstance that it is and we’re all very motivated to have a good day, try to put this stuff behind us. 

“I think it just makes you lock in. Everyone is just locked in on the job. People have to step up now because we’re missing some key individuals and that can be motivating for people. Like: ‘Alright, I’ve got to take on more work and responsibility.’ 

“That’s all of us in the team right now. You get the best out of people in those situations. That’s what always gets the best out of me is tough situations. You see how good you really are.”

Newgarden sees only the same challenge as usual: control the controllables and shut everything else out.

“The difficult part about the Indianapolis 500 is how do you stay focused on what is in your control,” he said. “That can look very different every year. There can be different stressors that push you.

“If you can just get yourself to a place where you are focused at the task at hand, you know what’s in front of you, you know what you’re in control of, you’re truly just focused on, I think you set yourself up mentally to have the best day possible. That’s what we’re doing.”

Despite starting in the final two positions on the back row, Newgarden and Power have not given up hope of victory - even if the furthest back from which a driver has ever won is 28th.

“Oh, absolutely [can still win]. Absolutely,” Newgarden said. “You can win this race from any seat in the house. There’s no bad seat in this house. There’s just no bad seat at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That goes for the starting grid too. 

“I like the challenge coming from 32nd.”