In recent months, due to the push-to-pass scandal, Indycar has entered the spotlight with Team Penske, one of the biggest in the business. As seasoned fans know, the push-to-pass system device optimizes engine horsepower quickly, making it easier for an Indycar driver to pass another in an active race. However, Team Penske failed to remove the device when they conducted hybrid testing before the March 10th race in St. Petersburg, Florida. Josef Newgarden lost a win, and Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, who were thought to be using the pass-to-pass system illegally, were fined $25,000 and docked 10 points.
Ron Ruzewski and engineers Luke Mason and Robbie Atkinson were suspended in addition to the hefty fines incurred by the drivers and point deductions. Indycar has not seen the likes of this for 29 years, so it was just as much of a shock to the racers as it was to the fans. The incident begs the question of whether there is a conflict of interest problem in the sport and if the team was genuinely unaware of the issue before the start of the race. Here’s what we know about Team Penske’s use of the push-to-pass system and how the issue will impact the 2025 Indycar Season.
Team Penske’s Take On The Incident
Team Penske’s failure to acknowledge the push-to-pass device being used illegally in St. Petersburg has been up for debate since March. Roger Penske, the team’s owner, claims that the drivers accused in the incident were unaware that the device was still active until before the third IndyCar race of the 2024 season. Suspicions were placed around whether the team was unaware of this, and questions were asked regarding the pit crew’s awareness. It’s hard to believe that no one involved recognized the cars were gaining horsepower during pitstops and passes on the track, and this is precisely what raised eyebrows.
Because of the apparent push for answers and pressure to react to the incident, Penske found himself in a challenging position. He first expressed his sentiment about the situation and apologized to the fans, the sport, and Team Penske’s Business Partners. Shortly after, the decision was made to suspend Team Penkse, president Tim Cindric, and Newgarden team members Ruzewski, Mason, and Atkinson. The push-to-pass device is only allowed during certain parts of the race, and Newgarden admittedly used them during a small stint even after initially claiming he did not. So, why weren’t the rules followed?
Is There Truly A Conflict of Interest?
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Even though Penske stood behind his drivers and apologized to the Indycar community, it still doesn’t erase the actions of the first race of the 2024 Indycar season. But is there a conflict of interest with how the push-to-pass system was kept active during a race? The rules for using the p2p device during a race state that only 200 seconds of use are allowed. A driver can use all 200 seconds simultaneously or use them singularly in 20-second intervals, but only in road courses. Team Penske stretched far beyond that, and there’s a theory about how the team may have gotten by with it in St. Petersburg.
Race day was quite controversial, with technical issues in race calling becoming the focal point after the green flag was waved. Once the green flag was waved, Team Penske intentionally left the push-to-pass system active for the first 10 minutes of the race, making them the only team out of the ten racing to do this. When called out, President Tim Cindric claimed there was a glitch in the software version used to power the engine control unit. However, other reports state the software was left on the team’s cars during the testing phase, which may explain bypassed rules.
How Does This Shape Penske’s Future?
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Questions about Team Penske’s use are raised because of the apparent scandal with Team Penske and the push-to-pass device’s illegal use. As a result of the March incident, Indycar pulled data from 2023 to determine whether there were any discrepancies in the data transmitted from the p2p to the controller area network that records the use of the device during active races. To this, team owner Roger Penske and president Tim Cindric deny wrongdoing but hold the accused accountable. Since the incident, Indycar has proposed a clear infraction indicator.
The indicator will alleviate the chances of a similar incident and give heightened awareness to Indycar drivers, team owners, and engineers when the device is initiated during a race. Penske can benefit from this and hopefully be thrust back into the spotlight for something other than a conflict of interest for using the p2p device illegally. Different teams will also undoubtedly benefit from the clear infraction device as well. So keep your eyes peeled for this during the 2025 season.
Final Thoughts
The future of Team Penske’s Indycar stint will depend on their ability to pull themselves out of the apparent setbacks due to the push-to-pass device scandal. Fans and the likes batted their eyes at this for a while, but it’s time for the team to rise from the ashes. It’s safe to say that, with the reputation of 224 consecutive wins, the team has always reigned supreme in Indycar and will undoubtedly continue to do so even after this incident.
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