Joey Logano reacts to Penske IndyCar cheating scandal as Team Penske’s reputation faces major challenges following the discovery of illegal car modifications during Indy 500 qualifying, sparking fears that the repercussions could spread to its NASCAR operations as well. Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion, spoke out from Charlotte Motor Speedway, acknowledging the possible cross-series impact as the fallout continues to escalate.
Penske Under Scrutiny for IndyCar Rule Violations
This week, Team Penske’s IndyCar program attracted heavy attention when it was revealed that the cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power contained unauthorized alterations. According to IndyCar Series rules, the chassis, supplied by Dallara in Italy, must remain largely unchanged, with over 90% of parts required to stay as originally installed. Inspectors from the IndyCar Technical Inspection Group found changes to the rear crash structures, including the use of fillers on the rear attenuators designed to create a smoother airflow surface.
These modifications were flagged as illegal during a pre-run technical check inside the garage. As a result, both Newgarden and Power were demoted to the last row for the Indy 500 starting grid, stripped of their championship points for top-12 finishes, and assessed fines of $100,000 each for violating competition rules.
Internal Fallout and Leadership Changes at Team Penske
The scandal prompted swift and sweeping action from Roger Penske, who is both team owner and a central figure in American motorsport. In a decisive move, Penske terminated the contracts of president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski, and team manager Kyle Moyer. Tim Cindric’s dismissal is particularly notable, as he is the father of Austin Cindric, who drives the No. 2 car for Penske’s NASCAR Cup Series team, further linking the repercussions across Penske’s racing operations.
Joey Logano Addresses Team Morale Amid Turmoil
From the NASCAR garages at Charlotte, Joey Logano directly addressed the situation, expressing concern about shared resources between the IndyCar and NASCAR programs. He explained how cross-team overlap in facilities and personnel might allow the scandal‘s effects to bleed into the stock car side, stating:
“We’re in the same building, so there are some shared pieces there. When we go to whatever manufacturing, engineering, those types of things, there are some shared people there. When we see something like that, yeah, does it impact us? Obviously, it’s going to.”
—Joey Logano, Cup Series champion
According to Logano, Roger Penske made a point to meet with teams and ensure that everyone remained focused and resilient while dealing with the controversy. Currently ranked ninth in the Cup Series standings, Logano continues to pursue his second victory of the season and emphasized the importance of maintaining morale amid ongoing investigations.
Pattern of Controversy Raises Broader Concerns
This incident marks the second consecutive year Team Penske has been entangled in regulatory breaches. In the 2023 season, the organization faced penalties for illegally accessing car software to enable a 50-horsepower push-to-pass function at any point during races, another violation that rocked the paddock.
The recurrence of these infractions has drawn intense scrutiny from rival teams, officials, and fans. Many are now questioning the sustainability of Penske’s culture and methods across all its racing efforts, including NASCAR, given the overlap in staff and operational processes.
What’s Next for Penske Across Racing Series?
As the investigation continues and Penske works to reestablish trust internally and externally, the company faces a critical period of introspection and change. NASCAR teams associated with Penske, including key figures like Austin Cindric and Joey Logano, are left to manage both competitive goals and potential distractions as the wider motorsports world watches how the organization responds moving forward.
