The Team Penske triple DNF at Gateway IndyCar race marked a rare and tumultuous outing for the powerhouse team, as each of its drivers failed to reach the finish line during the chaotic Bommarito Automotive Group 500 held in Madison, Illinois. The event descended into turmoil with multiple accidents and a trackside fire, leaving Team Penske reeling and the rest of the paddock in disbelief.
Early Incidents Set the Tone for High Drama
The race‘s frenetic pace was established almost immediately, with early issues for several drivers. Devlin DeFrancesco spun at Turn 1 on Lap 4, striking the outside wall, and the resulting confusion in the pit lane led to a startling incident involving a camera operator. Following his crash, DeFrancesco abruptly stopped while running through the pit lane, which caused the nearby cameraman to collide with him and fall to the ground. This was just one of many bizarre and dangerous moments that would characterize the night.
While all eyes were on Team Penske, AJ Foyt Racing’s David Malukas made his presence felt by leading the opening laps and eventually leading the most laps of any driver with 72. However, pit stop timing proved critical, and Malukas faded to a 12th-place finish following the last round of stops.
Penske Drivers Rally, Then Fall One by One
Throughout the middle stages, Penske cars appeared competitive, with Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power all taking turns at the front. Newgarden gained the lead with a well-timed pit stop on Lap 101, undercutting McLaughlin, who would soon slip to third behind Malukas. Team Penske’s fortunes soured quickly, however, as Newgarden crashed heavily on Lap 129, halting the race and ending his bid for the win.
McLaughlin, reflecting on his own misfortune, said,
Really bummed for everyone on the Dex Imaging Chevy. I had a fast car, just not a clean night.
—Scott McLaughlin, Driver. Mechanical problems continued to plague his car, with McLaughlin later reporting, “Something broke.” He added,
“I don’t know. Left rear. Lucky it happened out of [Turn] 2 because coming down the straight it went ‘bang’. It was like somebody hit me. I thought somebody was beside me but my spotter said I was clear.”
Power also hit trouble, spinning on Lap 46 and triggering the second caution of the race, which sparked additional action in the pits. The avalanche of setbacks culminated in a complete shutdown for Team Penske, as all three of their entries exited before the finish line.
Chaos and Cautions Reshape the Gateway Race
Beyond Penske’s woes, the Gateway event was littered with incidents. A series of explosions and a fire in pit lane added to the wild unfolding of events, with emergency crews and officials frequently involved throughout the race. McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, penalized for missing his pit stall and reversing, received a drive-through and finished 14th. Other notable incidents included Malukas and McLaughlin both serving penalties for unsafe pit releases just as the field was regrouping after the Newgarden crash.
Surprise performances also shaped the running order. Pato O’Ward inherited the lead and faced stiff competition from Conor Daly of Juncos Hollinger Racing, who delivered a standout performance, climbing to the front and leading 36 laps before pit strategy shuffled him back. The timing of the final safety car also allowed Scott Dixon to gain track position, as he managed to lap the field before serving his last stop and briefly leading the race. Nevertheless, Dixon could not hold off a wave of challengers in the closing laps.
Kirkwood Prevails Amid Mayhem for a Second Straight Win
As the leaders cycled through their last stops, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood emerged at the front after Callum Ilott finally pitted. Kirkwood maintained his advantage, beating Pato O’Ward by less than half a second to secure his third win of the season and his second consecutive victory, following earlier triumphs in Long Beach and Detroit. Rasmussen delivered a remarkable drive, finishing third after starting 25th. Scott Dixon finished fourth, with Santino Ferrucci rounding out the top five.
Other notable results saw series leader Alex Palou secure eighth place, just behind Daly and Rinus VeeKay. Rounding out the top ten were former Prema teammates Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman, both delivering steady if unspectacular performances amid the chaos.
Implications for Team Penske and the IndyCar Championship
The Team Penske triple DNF at Gateway IndyCar race stands as one of the most significant setbacks for the team in recent history, raising questions about their reliability and approach in chaotic high-stakes races. As the IndyCar Series shifts its attention to Road America on June 23, teams and drivers alike will be analyzing what went wrong and how best to respond to the unpredictability that has defined recent events. The championship battle remains wide open after a race where both veterans and new faces left indelible marks.
