IndyCar president Doug Boles has disclosed the emotional difficulty he faced while handling the Team Penske Indy 500 illegal part scandal, which unfolded during the qualifying weekend in May. The controversy centered around Team Penske, owned by Roger Penske, after officials discovered illegal modifications on two of its cars, resulting in significant penalties and a high-stakes conversation between Boles and Penske.
Penske Team Faces Severe Scrutiny Following Technical Violation
The issue erupted when IndyCar’s technical team identified unauthorized changes to the rear attenuators on the No. 2 and No. 12 Chevrolets, driven by Josef Newgarden and Will Power. These parts, designated as “spec” by the series, are required to remain unaltered. The discovery happened just before the Fast 12 session on May 18, leading Team Penske to withdraw both entries to comply with regulations.
The following morning, on May 19, the league announced both Newgarden and Power would be forced to start from the back of the 33-car field as punishment for violating the rules. Doug Boles later reflected on the moment he had to inform his own boss, Roger Penske—who is both the owner of Team Penske and owner of IndyCar—of the decision.
“The most challenging thing I did all month was pick the phone up on the morning after qualifying and call my boss (Roger Penske) who at that time, I’m not calling because he’s my boss, I’m calling because he’s a team owner to say, ‘Hey, by the way, we are taking your two cars from yesterday and putting them at the back of the grid.’ Those are not fun conversations,”
Boles admitted. —Doug Boles, IndyCar President
Alongside the grid demotion, IndyCar fined each entry $100,000 and suspended the race strategists for both Newgarden and Power. Roger Penske responded by issuing a public apology to IndyCar fans, recognizing the serious nature of his team‘s involvement in a second major scandal in just over a year.
The race itself proved challenging for Team Penske. Josef Newgarden mounted an impressive drive from 32nd position up to sixth before his car retired due to a fuel pump failure. Will Power also made significant gains, climbing 17 places to finish 16th. Meanwhile, Scott McLaughlin, the third Penske driver, suffered a crash on the pace lap and failed to start the event.
Additional Penalties Strike Andretti Global, PREMA, and AJ Foyt Racing
The fallout from Indy 500 technical inspections and post-race scrutiny extended beyond Team Penske. After the 109th running of the race on May 25, officials penalized three additional drivers by sending them to the rear of the field. This group included runner-up Marcus Ericsson, his Andretti Global teammate Kyle Kirkwood, and PREMA’s Callum Ilott, all of whom lost their starting positions and began the next race from the final three grid spots.
The following week brought further sanctions after the Detroit GP, when Santino Ferrucci of AJ Foyt Racing was found to have an underweight driver compartment in his car. While Ferrucci’s runner-up finish remained official, he forfeited 25 championship points, lost an additional bonus point for leading a lap, and the squad received a $25,000 fine.
“I grew up with AJ Foyt was my racing hero. So I had to penalize… in the course of a couple of weeks, you penalize one of the most famous names in racing at Andretti, you penalize your boss and most famous names in racing, Penske. And then have to call your racing hero and say, ‘Hey, by the way…’ So yeah, it’s been a tough time,”
Boles said on the aforementioned podcast. —Doug Boles, IndyCar President
Ongoing Tension as Series Heads to Illinois Night Race
The string of technical violations and subsequent punishments has left tension and unease across the IndyCar paddock, especially with prominent organizations like Andretti Global, Team Penske, PREMA, and AJ Foyt Racing all under scrutiny. Doug Boles’ role as both league executive and racing enthusiast meant these disciplinary decisions struck on a personal level, especially when legendary figures like AJ Foyt were involved.
Now, IndyCar’s attention shifts to Madison, Illinois, where the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will mark the series’ only night race of the 2025 calendar, held at World Wide Technology Raceway. Josef Newgarden, who is at the center of the recent Team Penske Indy 500 illegal part scandal, returns as the defending winner for what promises to be another eventful round amid a climate of heightened rule enforcement and accountability for all teams.
