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McLaughlin Eyes 'Immortality' at Indy 500 according to Penske fraud scandal

McLaughlin Eyes 'Immortality' at Indy 500 according to Penske fraud scandal

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The team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin was involved in an embarrassing scandal at the season opener of the IndyCar series last year when the team was punished for the illegal use of the push-to-pass system at Neustart.

The violation caused Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden's victory together with the Podium Finish by McLaughlin.

If you believe that this was bad, the team Penke owner Roger Penske was still embarrassed when the team members made the damping areas on Newgarden's cars and wants to modify power from day 2, which qualified for the rod for the Indianapolis 500.

Penske was so annoyed by the businessman based in Bloomfield Hills, the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway- has that he released three of its top executives on Wednesday, including Tim Cindric, who has been the organization of the team for 20 years. The managing director Ron Ruzewski and General Manager Kyle Moyer were also released.

The step of letting go of Cindric had to break penske's heart. Cindric has been with the organization since 2000 and played a major role in half of the Record 20 in Indianapolis 500 victories of the team and Cindric's son Austin race for Penske's Nascar team. But it was a step that had to be taken for the integrity of the sport he loves, and the Indy 500 himself, a racing pens, who first won with Mark Donohue behind the steering wheel in 1972.

“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our racing teams,” said Penske, 88, in an explanation. “We have had organizational failures in the past two years and had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down.”

More: The fraudster scandal was “very hard” at Roger Penske, says Will Power

More: Indycar examines the independent governance after the Penske fraud scandal

The President of Indycar, Doug Boles, planned to wait until the Indy 500 to eliminate the situation and decided this week that he would exhibit punishments against Team Penske. Cindric and Ruzewski are suspended in the rest of the Indy 500 week, and the entries No. 12 (Newgarden) and No. 2 (Power) were each occupied $ 100,000.

McLaughlin crashed into practice in his No. 3 Chevrolet in practice before the 2 Qualifying Sunday and ended his opportunity to take part in the almost 12 meeting to start the race from the pole, which he won a year ago.

It was found that Auto No. 2 of Newgarden and Powers No. 12 -Auto uses illegally modified weaknesses and prevents them from participating in the almost 12 qualification.

Robert Shwartzman is the first rookie on the bar since Teo Fabi in 1983 and Kyle Larson, who tries to complete the double double by starting on Sunday in Nascars Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina on 19.

Newgarden will follow the history of Indy 500 and try to become the first driver to win three consecutive races in the Brickyard. Newgarden starts 32nd and Power 33. In the 33-car field.

McLaughlin spoke on the judgment on Thursday and knows that the Indy 500 will be even more difficult if the drivers have new strategists to work.

“He (Penske) told us that we should only concentrate on the race,” said McLaughlin. “I understand that it was a business decision and I left it to make it back. Nevertheless, these three boys did a lot for me, so much for my career and they are still good friends.

“It will be different with new strategists, but I have had Kyle Moyer as my strategist since 2022 and have also worked with me with me since 2022. I am used to talking and offering important information during the race, and it will be my strategy.”

Power won the Indy 500 in 2018 and Newgarden in the past two years. Nevertheless, it will be much more difficult for Newgarden to write history and have the right to kiss the bricks for the third time in a row.

Nevertheless, the excitement for McLaughlin will be there, which will start the 10th place.

“It will be so exciting. With 350,000 fans, it is sold out in history for the second time. It's crazy and I'm just pumped and ready to keep.

“I plan to use this experience (on Sunday). You win this race and it is immortality for the rest of your life.”

McLaughlin quickly becomes the face of the Team Penske organization. He won three races last year and finished third in 2023 and 2024 in Series Points Race. Newgarden, who won the series championships in 2017 and 2019 and ended the second place in 2020, 2021 and 2022, hopes that a historical victory will end the embarrassed embarrassment in Penske.

David.goricki@detroitnews.com

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

▶ When: Friday, May 30th Sunday, June 1st

▶ Where: Streets of the city center of Detroit

▶ Schedule: Friday -IMSA WeatherTech Sport Car Championship practice and qualifying, Indy NXT exercise, IndyCar exercise; Saturday -Indy NXT exercise and qualification, IndyCar exercise and qualification, IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship Race (3:40 p.m. Start); Sunday – Indy NXT Race (10:30 a.m. Start), Indycar Detroit Grand Prix Race (12:30 p.m. Start)

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