But for All the Wrong reasons!
So it’s the day before the Mack Daddy 109th
running of the Indianapolis 500, and I just have to say that this year’s race
has a bad taste in the mouth for Mwah…
After learning late Monday evening of Team
Penske’s additional penalties handed out by J. Douglas Boles, all I could say
was Horseshit! Wondering to thyself do I totally ignore Team Penske being
caught cheating again, or do I try scribbling something constructive here upon
No Fenders? Skipping the F-bombs’ laden initial response I had when learning
about this…
Everyone knows about Penske’s No. 2 Josef
Newgarden and No. 12 Will Power’s entries being sent to the last row, now
starting P32-33 based upon Saturday’s qualifying speed. And that they’ve been
given the final two pit selections, forfeited their qualifying points and
handed a $100,000 fine per car. Along with Team Penske top two IndyCar
lieutenant’s Tim Cindric and Ron Ruzewski being banned from taking further part
in this year’s Indianapolis 500; for the second straight year, Boo-Hoo-Hoo!
I understand Boles decision of keeping the
fastest 33 cars in the field, but I also believe what Pato O’Ward said.
Claiming that the cars were in their altered configuration on Saturday, for
which we’ll never truly know…
But I say that IndyCar’s penalty wasn’t harsh
enough. As the only message that can truly be sent about altering a safety
component on a racecar, however slight is simply for immediate Disqualification.
End of Story!
As the IndyCar statement claims that the Attenuator’s
seams were filled in order to gain an aerodynamic advantage, which regardless
of whom you believe, is just another of the countless examples of Penske
seeking it’s legendous “Unfair Advantage!”
My “gut” feeling is that as long as Roger
Penske holds the keys to everything. Sadly, there will forever be a dark cloud
overhead IndyCar! Which I really don’t know the solution to, but I’d say it’s
quite the conundrum.
Since once again one of the little teams is
taking it in the shorts financially, whilst the Big Dawgs’ keep rollin’ on! As
how much did Dale Coyne just lose out upon?
As the spotlight should have been solely
focused upon the incredible accomplishment of rookie Robert Shwartzman, which
was Freakin’ Amazing! With only five IndyCar races to His (and Prema’s) credit,
He becomes just the third rookie in Indy 500 History to win pole!
The last being Italian Teo Fabi in 1983, the
year Prema was formed. And first rookie team since the “Gasman” Tom Sneva
driving for Mayer Motor Racing in ’84.
Totally Unbelievable!
Yet lie Pato O’Ward said in the IndyStar
article I listened to late Sunday night, following the Fast Twelve Shootout.
The real question is why does Penske feel they need to do such things? As
they’ve got really good drivers, good equipment, so why?
And who will Roger put on Double Secret
Probation this time? Uhm, guess that Doug Boles did that for Him, Eh?
Although I’d like to point out what at least I
heard Boles say during His press conference announcing the harsher penalty. The
Nos. 2 and 12 weren’t disqualified, Team Penske simply elected to withdraw them
on Sunday. As they were allowed to run in the Fast 12 Shootout but most
certainly would be disqualified afterwards for failing post technical
inspection.
While I still do not believe Cindric’s comment
about ScottyMac’s No. 3 car not having a modified attenuator. Unless that means
that Team Penske made the modification between McLaughlin’s practice crash and
Sunday qualifying? Even though reports claim that other teams have photographs
of Penske’s car running with this modification going back to last year, Huh?
As it’s a really Ugly problem! And no matter
how it was handled/not handled? Somebody in the Last Row shootout got screwed!
Especially when it’s the series owner caught cheating at the racetrack He owns!
As congratulations to Robert Shwartzman and
Prema Racing! And may somebody beside Team Penske win this Sunday! Since can
you imagine the scuttlebutt if either the No. 2 or No. 12 wins?
Aftermath
Naturally, the story wasn’t finished. Since a
day after I finished penning this article, Roger Penske dropped a Bombshell
with the firing of Tim Cindric, Rob Ruzewski and Kyle Moyer, His top three
IndyCar lieutenants on Wednesday, May 21st.
This is quite significant, since I like many
believed that Cindric would one day take over control of Team Penske when El
Capitano’, nee Roger Penske had finally taken the chequered flag…
I should also say that I’ve found Doug Boles to
be very pragmatic during this whole ugly situation, and as a lawyer saying He’s
just been working with the facts. As Boles has been decisive and
straightforward in what appropriate punishment He could deal out. Thus I find
myself unexpectedly defending Him, by just saying that He’s only been president
of IndyCar since early February. And as Boles said, the Penske
penalitespenalties are probably Harsher then what was handed out to other team
violations at the Thermal club this past March…
I also know that whilst photographic evidence
of Josef Newgarden’s 2024 Indy 500 winning car sporting the exact same
alterations exist. Boles has noted that He’s been told the Aerodynamic
modification would net 0.0mph gain.
While it’s also somewhat hard to believe that
Roger Penske would wish such negative publicity focused upon Him at the
racetrack He so cherishes, and has spent millions improving to make “Penske
Perfect”. Not to mention the huge stain this puts upon His legendous’ racing
organization. Not to mention All of the people who work so diligently for Him…
Yet I still say that the only acceptable
punishment for modifying a safety component. With the rear attenuator designed
presumably with said seam gap to crumple in a rearwards accident and dissipate
crash energy away from the driver, is for immediate Disqualification of said
racecar!
While it will be very interesting to see how IndyCar moves forward from this massive scandal…
