The Team Penske Indy 500 controversy and reactions have generated uproar across IndyCar, as questions surface about fairness and governance in motorsport following illegal modifications found during 2025 qualifying in Indianapolis. As scrutiny mounts, major figures such as Ricardo Juncos are both defending rival Roger Penske and urging for greater independence in the championship’s oversight.
Penske Faces Backlash Over Indy 500 Qualifying Scandal
Roger Penske and his IndyCar team became the epicenter of debate again at the 2025 Indy 500 qualifying after their cars were discovered to have illicitly modified rear attenuators. Josef Newgarden and Will Power were removed from Fast 12 contention, hit with $100,000 fines, and placed at the back of the grid for the 109th running of the race. The incident marked the second significant controversy involving Penske’s team within fifteen months.
Reacting swiftly, Roger Penske dismissed his senior leadership and publicly apologized to fans. The fallout spread rapidly through the paddock and also revived questions about competitive integrity.
Ricardo Juncos Laments the Fallout but Stands by Penske’s Reputation
On Carb Day before the race, Ricardo Juncos, owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing, weighed in on the turbulent week, emphasizing both the tumult caused by the event and his continued respect for Penske:
“The Indy 500 is crazy, naturally, and now we have all this drama. In my perspective, it’s been very hard to keep the focus. We are doing a lot of things, we are trying to learn and achieve. And it’s unfortunately what happened, right? I think no one needs this. I feel sorry for Roger, to be honest.”
—Ricardo Juncos, Owner, Juncos Hollinger Racing
“As a team owner, I always look at him as a top guy, and I will continue doing that because, for me, he’s really, really good. What happened with his team on Sunday, everybody knows… I’ll tell you there’s 400-something things on each car that you can actually do, and sometimes the rules are not black and white, and it’s really hard to hard to make sure.”
—Ricardo Juncos, Owner, Juncos Hollinger Racing
Juncos’s perspective echoes the conflicted mood in the paddock, with many viewing Penske as a benchmark for professionalism despite the storm. Others in the IndyCar community expressed sympathy for the imperfect clarity of technical regulations and enforcement.
IndyCar Leadership’s Response to Previous Faults
While the controversy unfolded, further revelations came to light. It was revealed that Josef Newgarden’s 2024 Indy 500-winning car carried the same modification, but IndyCar President Doug Boles stated that Newgarden would not lose his 2024 title. Boles justified the decision by stating that the irregularity had not been caught during the post-race technical inspection, which led to widespread debate about the thoroughness of current procedures.
Push for Independent Oversight in IndyCar Regulations
The scandal intensified ongoing debates over whether IndyCar should implement an independent governing body, given that Roger Penske owns both the IndyCar Series and Team Penske. Ricardo Juncos became a vocal advocate for change, stating:
“Well, i think it’s a good idea,”
Juncos said via RACER.
“I mean, we have to be that way. We should never be the way it is now. If team owners can have a little bit more voice, which I think we are now, we should get better. Clearly, having a total independent entity controlling the regulations and the scrutiny and all that will fix it, as other motorsport associations have.”
—Ricardo Juncos, Owner, Juncos Hollinger Racing
This stance finds support among many participants who believe that separating team and series management is vital for ensuring fairness and consistency across all competitors.
A Competitive Field Heads Into the Indy 500 Amid Uncertainty
The rivalry between Team Penske and Juncos Hollinger Racing is set to intensify as they line up side by side in the 109th Indianapolis 500, with Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and JHR’s Conor Daly sharing the fourth row. Despite the scandal, every team now prepares for a tightly contested race, knowing that transparency and regulatory reform may shape the future of the sport far beyond this weekend’s results.
As scrutiny on Team Penske Indy 500 controversy and reactions remains high, the demand for independent oversight could herald lasting structural changes in IndyCar and other major racing events, reflecting ongoing tensions about transparency and governance throughout motorsport.
