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 uncovered 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 for the next two races, namely the Sonsio Grand Prix and the 108th Indianapolis 500.
Tim Cindric, being 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 team’s statement does not explicitly admit to 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.”
IndyCar has already imposed penalties after the discovery of the trick. Josef Newgarden was disqualified from his victory in St. Pete, while Scott McLaughlin lost his podium. Will Power also received a 10-point penalty in the championship. In addition, the three teams were fined $25,000 and had to forfeit any prize money earned during the first stage of the season.
The suspension of Team Penske’s management during the Indy 500, which is considered the most prestigious event in IndyCar, represents one of the most severe punishments, except for complete termination. The team has not yet disclosed how it will restructure its operations during the Month of May or who will take over the vacant positions in the next two stages of the championship.
