After Team Penske’s controversial technical infraction during Indy 500 qualifying, Rinus Veekay has voiced his opinion, suggesting an alternate punishment should have been considered for the team. The issue has highlighted new perspectives on how rule breaches are handled at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, centering the debate about what discipline is suitable.
Disqualification and Penske Team’s Technical Infraction
During the Fast 12 qualifying session, Penske drivers Josef Newgarden and Will Power failed a technical inspection owing to an illegal modification of their vehicles’ rear attenuators. As a result, both cars were denied the chance to return to the track for the remainder of the session. The penalty kept the Team Penske duo from taking part in Sunday’s critical qualifying runs and resulted in both drivers being relegated to start from the back of the field for the upcoming Indy 500.
The aftermath has been tense among teams and fans, given the significance of qualifying positions at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This development has become especially relevant as it impacted not just Team Penske but also the final race lineup.
Rinus Veekay Recommends Alternate Disciplinary Action
Rinus Veekay, who narrowly secured his spot in the Indy 500 by advancing through the Last Chance Qualifying session and bumping Jacob Abel out, has expressed that a different form of discipline might have been more fitting. Veekay pointed out that Penske’s vehicles had passed multiple technical inspections throughout the week, and the violation was discovered only later. He stated,
“The cars went through tech several times last week,”
Veekay was quoted by Indy Star.
Veekay indicated he believed it would have been fairer for the Penske drivers to have to compete in the Last Chance Qualifier themselves. As he explained, this would have allowed them the opportunity to fight for their places in the race rather than being assigned to the back of the starting grid. According to Veekay, this entire situation also added to the disappointment for Jacob Abel, who was edged out of a starting position:
Unfortunately, we’re at the tail end of the field.
—Rinus Veekay, Driver
Last Chance Qualifying Fallout and Jacob Abel’s Viewpoint
With Newgarden and Power now starting behind him, Veekay moves two spots forward on the grid for the premier race. Meanwhile, his Dayle Coyne Racing teammate Jacob Abel was the only driver excluded from the race after Sunday’s Last Chance Qualifying. Abel’s exclusion has drawn renewed attention and sympathy in the wake of Penske’s penalty, prompting some to suggest that Abel should have retained a place in the event instead of the penalized drivers from Team Penske. Addressing public support, Abel said:
I want to deserve to be there. And we have our chances like every other car did and we didn’t make it.
—Jacob Abel, Driver
Abel clarified his stance, expressing appreciation for the fans’ backing but insisting that only those who earn their position through qualifying, without technical disqualifications playing a role, should participate in the storied event.
Reactions Across the IndyCar Community
Following the incident, Team Penske leadership and drivers have faced criticism from others in the IndyCar paddock. Veteran driver Scott Dixon remarked that the scenario reflected poorly on the reputation of the series, while McLaren’s Zak Brown directly questioned Team Penske’s management strategies surrounding the infraction. Both comments add to the prevailing sense of disappointment and tension that has overshadowed preparations for the marquee race.
As the Indy 500 field solidifies, continued discussions about fairness and how penalties are enforced may lead to revisiting rules for future events. For now, the debate over an alternate punishment suggested for Team Penske Indy 500 lingers, leaving both competitors and fans watching for what changes may come next.
