Robert Schwarzman sensationally secured pole position for the 109th Indianapolis 500 on an oval course on an oval course. But the sporty headline is overshadowed by the next technology scandal around the Penske team-just a good year after the push-to-pass slat in St. Petersburg 2024, the traditional team is again pillory.
Prema Racing and Schwarzman wrote history on Sunday: The Israeli rookie, which only rose to the IndyCar series this year, was the fastest in the fastest 6 shootout and thus secured the pole position for the most famous races in American motorsport history. He is the first rookie since Teo Fabi 1983 to get the pole at the Indy 500.
An average of 232.79 miles per hour (374.64 km/h) over four rounds in his Prema-chevrolet was enough in the final shootout to the pole for the rookie in the newcomer team. “I can’t believe it, it’s like a dream,” said the 25-year-old. “I would never have expected to be on the Pole at my first Oval race.”
In second place came Takuma Sato (Rll-Honda; 232.47 MPH), followed by Patricio “Pato” O’Ward (McLaren-Chevrolet; 232.09), Scott Dixon (Ganassi-Honda; 232.05), Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer-Shank-Honda; 231.98) (Ganassi-Honda; 231,37), who almost 6.
Penske caught again while cheating
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But the sporty coup of the newcomer got into the background. Because shortly before the start of the Fast 12 session, in which the six fastest got into the “almost 6”, the legendary team Penske caused a sensation: Both Josef Newgarden and Will Power were removed from the starting line-up shortly before qualifying. (Update: In the meantime, tougher punishments have been pronounced)
The reason: a technical violation of the rear crash structure (“Rear Attenuator”) of both vehicles. Scott McLaughlin, Third Penske-Pilot, had an accident in training and could not compete anyway.
Indycar technology director Kevin Blanch spoke of a “violation of the body fit in the area of the attack”. Penske team President Tim Cindric explains: “The #12 [Power] was successfully decreased. As the #2 [Newgarden] went to inspection, it was noticed that there was a striking place at the transition. We then decided not to let #12 not drive because the component was identical. “
According to Cindric, the team accepted the defect in the Grid with simple means. But other teams protested – the repair was classified as non -compliant. So the dream of the Pole was there: all three Penske pilots had to be satisfied with their Saturday times and started from the fourth row (McLaughlin 10th, Newgarden 11th, Power 12.).
O’Ward: Penske would have fell into the bumping
Above all, criticism from the paddock caused that the affected vehicles were not sent to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), which used to be known as “bumping”. All vehicles from 31st place compete there to qualify for the last series of starting. This time there were 34 cars, so one had to go home. That was Rookie Jacob Abel (Coyne-Honda).
Pato O’Ward finds clear words: “It was not an accident. They already had the cutting torch ready to remove it. These cars were not in accordance with the rules. The rule is black on white: Actually, they would have heard in the LCQ.”
O’Ward assumes Penske to have already used illegal modification on Saturday. “They were disqualified today, but they would have had to be yesterday. It has no sense. The team is so good, the drivers too, why do they do that?”
Indycar and Penske are now in focus again. Just a year ago, Penske was the leading actor in the Push-to-Pass scandal of St. Petersburg 2024. Now the next scandal follows at the very big race. There will be some discussions until the start on Sunday.
Outstanding meetings at the Indy 500 2025
Monday, May 19th
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: 7th free training
Friday, May 23rd
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: 8. Free training (“Carb Day”)
Sunday, May 25th
6:45 p.m.: Racing start
In this article
Heiko Stritzke
IndyCar
Robert Schwartzman
Team Penske
According to PowerTeam
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