Tim Cindric, the president of Team Penske, will face a suspension throughout the Month of May. This decision comes after Team Penske’s revelation that several key members of their IndyCar team have been suspended due to their involvement in the recently discovered Push to Pass trick. After an extensive internal investigation, the team identified significant flaws in their processes and internal communications. As a consequence, four team members, including Tim Cindric, Ron Ruzewski, Luke Mason, and Robbie Atkinson, will be suspended in the upcoming two races, namely the Sonsio Grand Prix and the 108th Indianapolis 500.
Tim Cindric, as the president of Team Penske, holds a prominent position within the team and therefore is subject to a more prominent suspension. Alongside him, executive director Ron Ruzewski, race engineer Luke Mason from team #2, and senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson will also face suspensions. The statement released by the team does not explicitly admit any intentional violation of IndyCar rules, but also does not seek to justify the team’s actions.
In the team’s press release, Roger Penske expressed his apologies for the negative impact caused by his team’s actions on the series’ reputation. He acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and the lasting consequences it has for the sport to which he has dedicated many years. Penske stated: « Everyone at Team Penske, our fans, and our commercial partners should be aware that I take full responsibility for the mistakes that were made and deeply regret them. »
L’IndyCar a déjà imposé des pénalités après la découverte de la tricherie. Josef Newgarden a été disqualifié de sa victoire à St. Pete, tandis que Scott McLaughlin a perdu son podium. Will Power a également reçu une pénalité de 10 points au championnat. De plus, les trois équipes ont été condamnées à une amende de 25 000 $ et ont dû renoncer à tout prix en argent remporté lors de la première étape de la saison.
La suspension de la direction de la Team Penske lors de l’Indy 500, considéré comme l’événement le plus prestigieux de l’IndyCar, représente l’une des punitions les plus sévères, à l’exception du licenciement complet. L’équipe n’a pas encore divulgué comment elle restructurera ses opérations pendant le mois de mai ou qui occupera les postes vacants lors des deux prochaines étapes du championnat.
