Just in:McLaren F1 Boss Zak Brown Criticizes indycar Over…read more
McLaren F1 Boss Zak Brown Criticizes indycar Over…read more
McLaren Formula 1 CEO Zak Brown has expressed serious concerns following a significant cheating scandal that rocked the IndyCar series during the Indy 500 qualifying weekend. Brown, who also oversees the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team, commented that the controversy has cast a shadow over the prestigious race and may continue to do so until it is properly resolved.
The controversy erupted during the qualifying shootout for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 when two Team Penske drivers — defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and former series champion Will Power — were disqualified. The pair were found to be using cars fitted with an illegally modified component. Initially, Team Penske withdrew both cars from the session. However, after further inspection by IndyCar officials, both drivers were formally removed from the standings, which relegated them to start at the back of the grid.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Brown stated, “What a shame this cloud will continue to hover over our great race until everything is fully resolved.” His remarks reflect the growing frustration among rival teams, who believe such incidents undermine the sport’s credibility.
This marks the second consecutive season in which Team Penske has been involved in a cheating controversy. At the season opener in St. Petersburg last year, the team was caught manipulating the push-to-pass system, a mechanism that temporarily boosts engine power. In that incident, Newgarden was stripped of his race win after it was discovered that the system had been activated illegally.
Brown emphasized that while technical errors can sometimes occur due to mechanical faults or human error, the recurrence of such violations suggests something more serious. “I’m very concerned, as are my fellow team owners, to find that Team Penske has been found with a multi-car major technical infringement for the second time in two seasons,” he said. “In racing, you can sometimes have mechanics who make miscalculations and you can sometimes have manufacturing issues that lead to honest mistakes. I don’t believe that’s what happened here or last year, which raises questions over the integrity of the decision-making within that team.”
As a result of the latest infractions, IndyCar has taken disciplinary action. Both drivers lost their qualifying points, and Team Penske was fined $100,000 per car. Additionally, two key team strategists — Tim Cindric and Ron Ruzewski — have been suspended for the remainder of May. These penalties reflect the severity with which the league views the breach of regulations, especially so close to one of the most high-profile races in global motorsport.
The 2025 Indy 500, part of motorsport’s famed Triple Crown alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix, is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As the event approaches, the scandal remains a talking point, casting doubt over the integrity of one of IndyCar’s most dominant teams and the measures in place to ensure fair competition.
