The very different reactions of the Penske drivers on the Indy scandal and the ventilation

Team Penske's trio of Indycar drivers addressed the controversy around the team after the discharge of the largest part of the management team after a violation of the qualification of Indianapolis 500. In particular, an aggressive defense of his team and the boss.

The tensions have been with Josef Newgarden's No. 2 -Auto -Auto inspection in the qualification for the almost 12 last Sunday, after which the car from Will Power was also pulled out of the meeting. Both had modified weaknesses – the rear fall structure in the car – which had violated the rules and was put in the back of the network for the race the next day.

Scott McLaughlin was the only Penke driver without a modified damper, but crashed into practice before qualifying so that he did not bring a round during the fast 12 and started the 10th century.

While he was joking with his passengers in the media meeting, McLaughlin Ernst and criticized unnamed drivers and media members for their role in Roger Penske's name, “moved through the mud” and President Tim Cindric, Managing Director Ron Ruzewski and General Manager Kyle Moyer, who were published by Penske.

“Ultimately, these three boys are friends of mine and made an enormous amount in my career to bring me to this point,” said McLaughlin.

“In my view, there is a sadness. At the end of the day I drive for Roger Penske.

“I respect the decision. I understand the decision. We go ahead.

“I think I'm disappointed with some of my colleagues and people in this room [media]as it was taken disproportionately.

“At the same time, I think that people forget exactly what Roger has done for this sport in general, and that is definitely a little thrown aside, which is difficult for me not to be passionate.

“But in the end that was done. That happened. We have to go forward. The punishments are accepted.

“Personally, I think I had the fastest car, I put it in the fence. I didn't have what was said.

“Smart people in this paddock know that there was no profit with it, do you know?

“It is frustrating that this is blown up in this way, and it costs three people who are very tight. But overall it is my view that I can only concentrate on the advance and Roger can win his 21st [Indy 500].

“I tell you something, there is so much motivation in our garage within the team, in my booth.”

McLaughlin said that he would not “call” people by name and refer to other drivers and said he understood that other competitors had potential rules than part of the game.

But again he spoke passionately in the defense of his team owner:

“I am disappointed with Roger's name through the mud, its integrity, our team, the people on the

“Basically, they are thrown into the mud. I take it personally.”

It is worth taking into account that McLaughlin has lost the best of the trio and had the slightest reason for it. His car did not have the modified damper, starts the 10th place and yet he has lost his strategist Moyer for the biggest race of the year.

It is easy to see why he is the most angry from the group.

Powers of ripper approach

In his response to the situation, power was measured a little more, not that McLaughlin went too far or was unappetizing in any way. The power was just a little more reserved when handing over a similar message.

“It's a kind of shock and a shame,” said power.

“They are all extremely good in their job. It was just the pressure from outside. I think Roger had to make a difficult decision, but I can tell them that they were very credible people. They really were.

“As you know, the violation was very low. It was not a performance win.

“I feel bad for everyone who is involved in this situation, I really do it.

“They are all extremely good people, great in their job, have won many races, championships, created an incredible team. A real pity.”

Roger Penske did not sleep the night before the decision to publish most of his management team, said Power, who added, “I know that it was very difficult for him”.

“He is in a very difficult place in this situation,” he added.

“You could say that it was difficult for him. Hard, hard for him to do that.”

The most fascinating answer?

McLaughlin will make the headlines for his passionate and emphatic approach, but reigning and twice 500 winners Josef Newgarden spoke about the topic, but would not get involved in many details in history.

It was far away when he called a press conference to give an emotional and torn explanation of his actions during the push-to-pass scandal last year, although Newgarden and the other drivers in everything that happened here were no fault.

“Well, we have a lot of people here today, it looks like this,” said Newgarden in his media meeting.

“I don't want to disappoint or insult anyone. I am here to talk about the race. I'm here with my team. I am ready to run. I love this race. My goodness, I enjoyed it all the time. I look forward to it every year.

“Proud of everything we did up to this point. Ready to run races. So I have that to say.”

He admitted something

When asked whether it was easy to stay happy, he joked that Indianapolis was too wet and cold.

In contrast to Power, who personally sat down with Penske to find out about the decision to change staff, Newgarden was on a press tour in New York, so he was told by phone.

He was asked how he reacted when he heard, and he said: “I only see a larger mountain, that's all I see.”

Newgarden assumes that he can still win the race “absolutely” from the 32nd, although it has never been done before.

“You can win this race from any seat in the house, there is no bad seat in this house,” he said.

Towards the end, Newgarden was asked, as he hopes to be there for Roger Penske in this difficult time.

“I will not comment on the actions that happened with the team this week, as I said,” was everything he would say in answer.

A defense of Newgarden last year

Although Roger Penske seemed to admit that Josef Newgarden's car was illegal when it won the 2024 Indy 500. Indycar President Doug Boles said that the result is not changed.

Pato O'Ward – overhauled by Newgarden in the last round last year – spoke about the decision to leave the racing result of last year as it was.

“Do you know whatever it was, I would never have won an Indy 500 a year later just because a car was illegal, whatever,” said O'Ward.

“I really believe that Josef won this race. He planned it better than me.

“I would like to be able to experience what every Indy 500 winner can experience, all of the energy. This is ultimately the experience of the next level, only an Indy 500 winner.”

O'Ward will start from his best starting position of third parties for this year.

What did other drivers say?

The media day has not yet been completed, but there were other reactions to controversy.

Helio Castoneves, who spoke out for his long -time team Penske by saying that the changes in the damper “look good” and not to win performance, I added: “I don't think the team will be affected to be honest at all.”

Ed Carpenter, driver and team owner, dealt with the potential for independent rules and regulations that would make things like the technical inspection independent.

“Everything I will really say just because there is still a lot to discuss, I think that the start of the conversations that took place this week were positive and productive. I look forward to being part of it while developing.

“I think this week put the stage for productive work into the future.”

Scott Dixon said

“It's a difficult situation for you, isn't it?” said Dixon.

“I think you are under the magnifying glass with what happened last year, what happened last weekend. It is unhappy that I mainly only think for the series.

“I don't want to worry about being honest. We saw how it is going on. At that moment you do the best what you can do.

“The disadvantage is that the majority of the conversation in our biggest race of the year is about someone like someone like [Robert] Shwartzman gets the pole, rookie team. There are so many cool stories. Hopefully that will definitely increase. “

One last Nugget from that day was that Alex Palou spoke of a video of him in which he laughed with Josef Newgarden, just before the fast 12 drove the car and the power of power.

You can watch it in the video below.

Review of what happened to Autos No. 2 and No. 12. pic.twitter.com/kkfmnoz2qe

– Indycar on fox (@indycaronfox) May 18, 2025

“I was there like 10 minutes ago almost 12. Josef's car was right in front of us. I only concentrated on my qualifying. Before I got into the car, I saw a lot of movement there.

“I know that you are allowed to change the front wing, the rear wing, but nothing else. I was only there and just tried to be fun. I asked if you tried to cheat. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't get any answer there.

“Then suddenly I found what was going on! But I honestly didn't know what was going on. I just tried to be funny at that moment.

“This is a … sorry.”

Change of personnel

Penske has confirmed that changes in personnel will cover Cindric, Ruzewaki and Moyer's loss.

In contrast to last year, Jonathan Diuguid will not be strategist for Josef Newgarden, since the engineer of the latter Luke Mason will take on this role. Rapha Matos will construct the car.

For McLaughlin there is a similar exchange with his engineer Ben Bretzman, who becomes strategist and Malcolm Finch. Will Power keeps Dave Faustino as an engineer at Diuguid as a race strategist.