Yesterday, IndyCar said that Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 violated 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. (read AutoInformed.com on:Rookie Robert Shwartzman in a Chevy on Indy 500 Pole) Upon further review early this morning, IndyCar will be moving car No. 2 (Josef Newgarden – Chevy. Two-time and defending 500 winner Josef Newgarden. He is trying to become the first driver to win the 500 for three consecutive years.) and the No. 12 (Will Power – Chevy) 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. Penske Entertainment owns the speedway. (Revised 500 Starting Grid click here> Fox Sports. See Monday practice results – click >here)
“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,” said IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles. “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.”
Car No. 3 (Scott McLaughlin – Chevy) 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.
IndyCar is also 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 has been fined $100,000. 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.”
The 2025 Indy 500 Revised Starting Grid
- Robert Shwartzman (232.790 mph) Row 1
- Takuma Sato (232.478 mph) Row 1
- Pato O’Ward (232.098 mph) Row 1
- Scott Dixon (232.052 mph) Row 2
- Felix Rosenqvist (231.987 mph) Row 2
- Àlex Palou (231.378 mph) Row 2
- David Malukas (231.599 mph) Row 3
- Christian Lundgaard (231.360 mph) Row 3
- Marcus Ericsson (231.014 mph) Row 3
- Scott McLaughlin (233.013 mph) Row 4
- Conor Daly (231.725 mph) Row 4
- Alexander Rossi (231.701 mph) Row 4
- Kyffin Simpson (231.641 mph) Row 5
- Ed Carpenter (231.633 mph) Row 5
- Santino Ferrucci (231.593 mph) Row 5
- Devlin DeFrancesco (231.575 mph) Row 6
- Sting Ray Robb (231.461 mph) Row 6
- Christian Rasmussen (231.438 mph) Row 6
- Kyle Larson (231.326 mph) Row 7
- Louis Foster (231.058 mph) Row 7
- Callum Ilott (230.993 mph) Row 7
- Helio Castroneves (230.978 mph) Row 8
- Kyle Kirkwood (230.917 mph) Row 8
- Nolan Siegel (230.571 mph) Row 8
- Ryan Hunter-Reay (230.363 mph) Row 9
- Jack Harvey (230.348 mph) Row 9
- Colton Herta (230.192 mph) Row 9
- Graham Rahal (229.863 mph) Row 10
- Marco Andretti (229.741 mph) Row 10
- Marcus Armstrong (229.091 mph) Row 10
- Rinus VeeKay (226.913 mph) Row 11
- Josef Newgarden (233.004 mph) Row 11*
- Will Power (232.144 mph) Row 11*
*Assessed penalties after qualifications for technical infraction
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
IndyCar Moves Team Penske Cars to Bottom of Grid!
Yesterday, IndyCar said that Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 violated 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. (read AutoInformed.com on:Rookie Robert Shwartzman in a Chevy on Indy 500 Pole) Upon further review early this morning, IndyCar will be moving car No. 2 (Josef Newgarden – Chevy. Two-time and defending 500 winner Josef Newgarden. He is trying to become the first driver to win the 500 for three consecutive years.) and the No. 12 (Will Power – Chevy) 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. Penske Entertainment owns the speedway. (Revised 500 Starting Grid click here> Fox Sports. See Monday practice results – click >here)
“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,” said IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles. “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.”
Car No. 3 (Scott McLaughlin – Chevy) 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.
IndyCar is also 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 has been fined $100,000. 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.”
The 2025 Indy 500 Revised Starting Grid
*Assessed penalties after qualifications for technical infraction
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.