Team Penske Cleans House
The Captain wasn't messing around and no one was safe after his IndyCar team's second major controversy in the past 15 months.
The Morning Warmup
May 23, 2025
Hey there, race fans! Happy Friday and welcome to another race weekend.
Sorry this newsletter is a few minutes late. I’ve had a busy week and crashed trying to write last night. Woke up at 5:30 with a good chunk left to write and a dog that needed let out. So here we are.
Speaking of busy, an eventful race weekend lies ahead - arguably the biggest of the year. We’ve got the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on tap, along with numerous other big races.
But before we can get there, we have to start with the evolving controversy in Indianapolis.
Today’s Top Stories
1) Team Penske cuts ties with three leadership figures after Indy tech controversy (IndyCar)
Days after Team Penske was embroiled in another NTT IndyCar Series rules controversy, team owner Roger Penske has cleaned house.
Penske announced Wednesday that it had cut ties with team president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski and general manager Kyle Moyer. The exits come after two of the three were suspended following a technical inspection failure discovered during qualifying for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Both drivers were initially just kept from qualifying in the Fast 12. But as controversy swelled, both Josef Newgarden and Will Power were sent to the tail for Sunday’s race, their teams were fined $100,000 and the suspensions were issued. Meanwhile teams and journalists realized the rear attenuator infraction could be found on numerous cars dating back to last year, including Newgarden’s race-winning car.
It was the second major controversy for Penske, following a push-to-pass scandal that overshadowed the start of the 2024 season. With concerns over the optics and potential conflict of interest - Roger Penske’s Penske Entertainment Corp. also owns both IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway - the Captain is entering the tour’s biggest race with a black cloud hanging over the week.
The issues stand against the ‘Penske Perfect’ image that Penske and his companies have spent decades establishing. But now the stalwart motorsports figure can at least say he’s done something about it.
(Source(s): Jeff Gluck / The Athletic)
Additional stories on the Penske fiasco:
You’ll want to check out this chat between Roger Penske and FOX Sports’ Jamie Little:
Josef Newgarden doesn’t want to discuss the technical breach, but says he can still win this weekend’s Indy 500. (Federico Faturos / Motorsport)
There’s been talk that Newgarden’s 2024 win should have been disqualified, but Pato O’Ward doesn’t want a retrospective win. (David Malsher-Lopez / RACER)
The Indy 500 controversy has put the normally-sterling reputation of Roger Penske under scrutiny. (Jeff Gluck / The Athletic)
Team Penske veteran Will Power called this dismissals “a shock and a pity” after losing his race strategist ahead of Sunday’s race. (Nick DeGroot / Motorsport)
With his father out of the picture, can Austin Cindric find a way to stand alone at Penske? (Tom Bowles / Frontstretch )
Race Recaps
ASA STARS National Tour: With dominant frontrunner Cole Butcher finding misfortune, Colby Howard secured the lead with 40 laps to go and never looked back at Hickory Motor Speedway. (Zach Evans / Racing America)
News and Notes
NASCAR
Supercars competitor Jack Perkins is coming to compete with the Xfinity Series in Portland on August 30. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)
The “Earnhardt” docuseries is officially available for viewing on Prime Video. Here’s a preview of the first episode:
If you want to know more about it, Frontstretch’s Adam Cheek talked with director Joshua Altman about his work on the series.
NASCAR.com’s Zack Albert used the series’ release as an opportunity to tell the story around Earnhardt’s state in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
A pair of Cup teams will have new spotters this weekend at the Coca-Cola 600. (Dustin Long / NBC Sports)
With some solid runs and a healthy heap of stage points, Bubba Wallace finds himself in a comfortable playoff position for the first time at this stage of the season. (Dustin Long / NBC Sports)
Here is the entry list for this weekend’s ARCA West race at Colorado National Speedway. (Kevin Rutherford / Frontstretch)
IndyCar
With a host of talented drivers starting deepen the field, there could be many marching toward the front this Sunday. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
Will Buxton made his name in Formula 1, particularly as a key figure in the Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive.” Now he’s set to call IndyCar’s biggest race. (Jeff Gluck / The Athletic)
There will be 17 drivers with in-car cameras this weekend in Indianapolis. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
IndyCar champ Alex Palou was this week’s guest on the “12 Questions” series. (Jeff Gluck / The Athletic)
Take a look behind the broadcast during Indy 500 qualifying:
F1
All but two F1 drivers made an early screening of “F1 The Movie.” Opinions were generally positive. (Madeline Coleman & Luke Smith / The Athletic)
Early title favorites have been established, but four-time defending champion Max Verstappen is confident that the picture could change drastically by season’s end. (Chris Medland / RACER)
Verstappen missed the movie screening, staying home with his partner, Kelly Piquet, and their newborn daughter. (Michelle Foster / Planet F1)
The Monaco Grand Prix is an iconic event, but has it become boring in the modern era? (Tasnim Chowdhury / BBC)
McLaren has vowed to let its drivers race. Will it cost them both an F1 championship? (Owen Bellwood / Motorsport)
With online abuse running rampant, F1 has called on platforms to step up their fight against online hate. (Filip Cleeren / Motorsport)
Sports Cars
United Autosports is planning an Asian Le Mans Series comeback for the 2025-26 season. (Jamie Klein / Sportscar365)
There are 22 cars in the entry list for next weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic in Detroit. (John Dagys / Sportscar365)
Supercars
Supercars has locked in a doubleheader weekend with the addition of the Ruapuna circuit. (Andrew van Leeuwen / Speedcafe)
Talks of a sale are growing at Tickford Racing. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)
Short Tracks
NASCAR has rolled out fines and a suspension for Stephen Kopcik in the wake of last week’s controversy Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Matt Weaver / Short Track Scene)
In an effort to move on from its public split with UARA leader Ricky Brooks, Cordele Motor Speedway has entered into a strategic partnership with the ASA Southern Super Series. (Matt Weaver / Short Track Scene)
Moto
Investment from India’s Bajaj Auto is set to keep KTM from bankruptcy in the near-term future. (Valentin Khorounzhiy / The Race)
Amid rumors of an early exit from Jorge Martin, Aprilia is standing tall and saying its contract “must be respected.” (Megan White / The Race)
A streak of 562 grands prix attended, reaching back 33 years, will come to an end for Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. (Richard Asher / Motorsport)
Rally
Thanks to Opel, we have the first all-electric rally car built to the FIA’s eRally5 regulations. (Tom Howard / Motorsport)
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On Track
Here we go.
The greatest day in racing lies ahead of us. Busy weekends lie ahead in Indianapolis, Monaco and Charlotte. And if that isn’t enough, we’ve got everything from a MotoGP race weekend in Britain to High Limit Racing action at Port Royal Speedway.
It’s a real dealer’s choice. Make sure to keep your Sunday free and enjoy.
All Times ET
Friday, May 23
NASCAR
At Charlotte Motor Speedway
Truck Series Practice: 3:35 p.m., FS2
Truck Series Qualifying: 4:40 p.m., FS2
ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150: 6:00 p.m., FS1
Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200: 8:30 p.m., FS1
IndyCar
At Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Carb Day Final Practice: 11:00 a.m., FS1
Pit Stop Competition: 2:30 p.m., FS1
F1
At Circuit de Monaco
Formula 1 Practice 1: 7:25 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
Formula 2 Qualifying: 9:10 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Formula 1 Practice 2: 10:55 a.m., ESPNU/F1 TV
Porsche Supercup Qualifying: 12:45 p.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Dirt
Major Tours
High Limit Racing Bob Weikert Memorial (Port Royal Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Attica Raceway Park): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Show-Me 100 (Lucas Oil Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
Other Action
NASCAR Dirt Mods (Autodrome Granby): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Modified Twin 20s (Utica-Rome Speedway): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
Spring Nationals (Sugar Creek Raceway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Williams Grove Speedway): 7:00 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Jacksonville Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
IMCA Weekly Racing (Marshalltown Speedway): 7:30 p.m., FloRacing
MARS Late Models (Tri-City Speedway): 7:30 p.m., FloRacing
360 Sprint (Silver Dollar Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Major Tours
USAC Hoosier Hundred (Indianapolis Raceway Park): 5:45 p.m., FloRacing
SMART Modified Tour (Franklin County Speedway): 6:15 p.m., FloRacing
Other Action
Little 500 Qualifying (Anderson Speedway): 11:30 a.m., DirtVision
Double Down (Stafford Motor Speedway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
-
Saturday, May 24
NASCAR
At Charlotte Motor Speedway
Xfinity Series Practice: 11:05 a.m., The CW App
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 12:10 p.m., The CW App
Cup Series Practice: 1:30 p.m., Prime Video
Cup Series Qualifying: 2:40 p.m., Prime Video
Xfinity Series BetMGM 300: 4:30 p.m., The CW/PRN
At Colorado National Speedway
ARCA Menards Series West: 9:45 p.m., FloRacing
F1
At Circuit de Monaco
Formula 3 Sprint Race: 4:45 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Formula 1 Practice 3: 6:25 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
Formula 2 Sprint Race: 8:15 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Formula 1 Qualifying: 9:55 a.m., ESPN/F1 TV
Sports Cars
At Oulton Park
British GT Qualifying: 10:45 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Dirt
Major Tours
High Limit Racing Bob Weikert Memorial (Port Royal Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Sharon Speedway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
Lucas Oil Late Models Show-Me 100 (Lucas Oil Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
Xtreme Outlaw Midgets (Airport Raceway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
Other Action
Spring Nationals (North Georgia Speedway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
IRA Sprints (Wilmot Raceway): 5:45 p.m., FloRacing
IMCA Nathan Bouche Memorial (141 Speedway): 5:55 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Fonda Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Land of Legends Raceway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
MARS Late Models (Fairbury American Legion Speedway): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Knoxville Raceway): 7:30 p.m., DirtVision
360 Sprints (Silver Dollar Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Major Tours
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (Riverhead Raceway): 4:30 p.m., FloRacing
UARA National Tour (The Freedom Factory): 5:45 p.m., Racing America
Little 500 (Anderson Speedway): 6:30 p.m;., DirtVision
NASCAR Weekly Racing (all on FloRacing)
Berlin Raceway: 6:00 p.m.
South Boston Speedway: 6:30 p.m.
Other Action
ISMA/MSS Supermodifieds (Oswego Speedway): 5:00 p.m., FloRacing
Oxford Championship Series (Oxford Plains Speedway): 6:00 p.m., Racing America
CRA Trucks (Jennerstown Speedway Complex): 6:20 p.m., FloRacing
Sportsman 100 (Bowman Gray Stadium): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Pro Late Models (Mobile International Speedway): 8:00 p.m., Racing America
Moto
MotoGP British Grand Prix Sprint Race (Silverstone): 11:00 a.m., FS1
-
Sunday, May 25
NASCAR
At Charlotte Motor Speedway
Cup Series Coca-Cola 600: 6:00 p.m., Prime Video/PRN
IndyCar
109th Running of the Indianapolis 500: 12:00 p.m., FOX
F1
At Circuit de Monaco
Formula 3 Feature Race: 2:00 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Formula 2 Feature Race: 3:40 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Porsche Supercup Race: 6:00 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix: 7:30 a.m., ESPN3/ESPNews/F1 TV
Sports Cars
At Oulton Park
British GT Warm Up: 4:00 a.m., GT World on YouTube
British GT Race 1: 5:45 a.m., GT World on YouTube
British GT Race 2: 10:45 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Dirt
Major Tours
High Limit Racing Bob Weikert Memorial (Port Royal Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Xtreme Outlaw Midgets (Airport Raceway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
Other Action
Super DIRTcar Series (Weedsport Speedway): 5:45 p.m., DirtVision
IRA Sprints (141 Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Short Track Super Series Sportsman (Brookfield Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
MARS Late Models (Spoon River Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Spring Nationals (Duck River Raceway Park): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Huset’s Speedway): 7:25 p.m., DirtVision
Short Tracks
NASCAR Youth Series (Lincoln Speedway): 10:00 a.m., FloRacing
Coastal 200 (Wiscasset Speedway): 2:00 p.m., Racing America
Memorial Day Classic (Thunder Road Speedbowl): 1:00 p.m., FloRacing
Open Modified and Outlaw Late Models (Midvale Speedway): 6:00 p.m., Racing America
Super Late Models (Slinger Speedway): 6:45 p.m., FloRacing
Moto
MotoGP British Grand Prix (Silverstone): 8:00 a.m., FS1
Number of the Day: 4.0
The Coca-Cola 600 has often been among the Cup Series’ least predictable races, with NASCAR’s longest race providing time for drivers to rally from deep in the field through pace or strategy. But the Next Gen era has favored drivers the qualify near the front. Each of the era’s there winners have started in the top-10, with an average starting position of 4.0 and two winners from inside the top three on the starting grid.