Team Penske's infractions and Prema's advancements set the stage for an exciting Indy 500.

      Joe Skibinski

      

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      You don’t need to have followed the entire IndyCar season to experience the thrill of its premier event, the Indy 500. While the three-hour race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway stands out as the most exhilarating in any racing genre, this year's occurrences are shaping up for an even more gripping (and sold-out) race on Sunday, May 25.

      From an Italian racing team that is hardly known to most Americans achieving unexpected success, to the series’ top drivers facing technical failures and getting sent to the back of the lineup after a somewhat dubious review process, things have not unfolded as anticipated. And, well, if excitement is what you’re after, this is certainly a positive development.

      Rookie Driver and Rookie Team Surprise the Field

      With only 33 starting positions and 34 drivers trying to qualify for the 109th Indy 500, it was clear that someone would leave disappointed. Logic suggested it would likely be either a rookie driver, an underperforming team, or a mix of both. In fact, newcomers Prema Racing were among those expected to go home without a spot during qualifying weekend.

      However, the opposite occurred with car No. 83. Rookie Robert Shwartzman astonished the competition by clocking a 232.790 mph average over four laps on the 2.5-mile super speedway, pushing two-time winner Takuma Sato to second place. The Israeli racer was left speechless after exiting the car, almost in disbelief over his achievement.

      “Honestly, it feels like I’m dreaming,” Shwartzman remarked following his qualifying run. “The car felt incredible, so quick.”

      Pre-race favorite and multiple-time runner-up, Pato O’Ward, will start in third position, enjoying a clear view of Turn 1 when the green flag waves. He and Sato will undoubtedly aim to overtake Shwartzman as swiftly as possible. Here’s a suggestion for Fox Sports: consider broadcasting Shwartzman’s heart rate live at the race's start. It would be worth watching.

      Penske Under Scrutiny Again for the Second Consecutive Year

      Team Penske, owned by Roger Penske, the most successful team owner in Indy 500 history, also owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar series. He’s a significant figure in the racing world. Unfortunately, this has not prevented his team from making questionable and rule-breaking decisions recently.

      Last year, the team and two of its drivers, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, were penalized for utilizing Push to Pass during a race when it should not have been accessible. This incident led to lost points, damaged credibility, and an emotional press conference from Newgarden.

      Although IndyCar rightfully sanctioned the team and drivers, Penske took further action by suspending the involved engineers and managers, including president Tim Cindric, for two weeks. Consequently, these key individuals were absent from the Indy 500.

      Now, Penske is again making headlines for the wrong reasons, as Newgarden’s and Will Power’s cars (No. 2 and No. 12, respectively, both Indy 500 champions) were found to be in violation of the rulebook as they prepared for the second day of qualifying.

      On Saturday, both drivers made it into what IndyCar refers to as the "Fast 12," securing their spots in the top half of the field and guaranteeing they would not drop below 12th place, regardless of performance on Sunday. However, as they got ready to go out on Sunday, it was noted that team mechanics were removing an adhesive from the car’s attenuator, which had been used to bond two body components. Reportedly, the adhesive was meant to seal the gap between the parts and enhance aerodynamic performance, which is against the rules.

      The problem was reportedly identified in Power’s car during technical inspection, which it ultimately failed. Despite efforts to rectify the issue on Newgarden’s car (hence the grinders and torches in the pit lane), Penske decided to withdraw that car as well. Both cars failing tech and subsequently withdrawing meant both would start from the back of the grid—specifically, the Fast 12 grid. This action, which allowed Penske to avoid penalties for the rule violations, was viewed as unjust by the other competitors.

      “They [Penske] weren’t accidentally doing it since they had a blowtorch right there to fix it,” McLaren’s Pato O’Ward stated after Sunday’s qualifying. “Honestly, I sympathize with [Jacob] Abel and everyone affected by the disqualifications or last chance qualifying. Those Penske cars were not in compliance.

      “I’m not an engineer, so I can’t tell you how much speed they gained or if they gained any,” O’Ward continued. “Clearly, it’s against the rules. The regulation