Roger Penske suspends Tim Cindric in push-to-pass affair

“The Captain” decided to strike hard. Two weeks after the disqualification of Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin from the St Petersburg Grand Prix for illegal use of push-to-pass, Roger Penske has learned the lessons of an internal audit at Team Penske. This Tuesday, May 7, the boss of the most victorious team ofIndyCar of history announced a series of suspensions within its own team.

The two drivers caught for cheating will have to do without their respective strategists throughout the month of May, including during the legendary Indianapolis 500. Indeed, Tim Cindric (incidentally the President of the team!) and Ron Ruzewski (Managing Director of the IndyCar program) were suspended. Luke Mason, Newgarden's race engineer, as well as Robbie Atkinson, Will Power's data engineer, have also been suspended, according to the team.

Statement from Team Penske, Roger Penske on team's response to recent INDYCAR penalties: pic.twitter.com/KpAfOMLfm3

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) May 7, 2024

“I recognize the magnitude of what happened and the impact it continues to have on the sport to which I have devoted so many decades, wrote Roger Penske. I apologize for the mistakes that were made and I deeply regret them. »

These sanctions will have real repercussions on the way in which Team Penske will prepare and experience the Indy 500. The strategists as well as the operating engineers constitute the two pillars of the IndyCar drivers, those with whom they deal almost continuously throughout. long weekend of racing. Winner in 2023 and 2018, Josef Newgarden and Will Power will therefore have to do without their trusted men.

The suspension of Tim Cindric is also a strong gesture on the part of Roger Penske. This Indianapolis native walked into the house Penske since 1999. He became President of Penske Racing in 2006 and has managed Team Penske's IndyCar entry since then. His son, Austin Cindric, also drives for Team Penske in NASCAR Cup Series

“After a comprehensive analysis of the information, the Penske team determined that there had been significant failures in our internal processes and communications,” can we read in the team's press release.

The apologies sent by Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin did not satisfy the IndyCar paddock. Penske had pleaded human error. Part of the engine software code used for testing the IndyCar hybrid would have ended up inadvertently in the software for the 2024 season. Perhaps these sanctions will calm minds while the biggest meeting of the year is fast approaching.

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