Team Penske owner Roger Penske has terminated three key members of his IndyCar organization following a cheating scandal involving illegally modified parts on cars driven by two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden and teammate Will Power.

The modifications in question were made to the rear attenuator, which could potentially provide an aerodynamic advantage during qualifying runs.

This decision was announced on May 21, 2025, just days before the Indy 500, after the team faced violations during technical inspections conducted on May 19.

In his statement, Penske emphasized the importance of integrity in motorsports and acknowledged organizational failures over the past two years.

Following the firings, Penske held a remote meeting with team owners where he took responsibility for the team's actions, and no further penalties were called for against the Penske team.

Power expressed sympathy for Penske, suggesting that external pressure from other team owners likely influenced the decision to dismiss the executives, despite the minor nature of the infraction.

IndyCar President Doug Boles acknowledged that it was a significant oversight that the modifications were not detected earlier, admitting that while they likely did not provide a substantial performance advantage, a rule violation had occurred.

Boles also emphasized that while the modifications may not have significantly impacted performance, they still represented a serious violation of IndyCar's rules.

Criticism of Team Penske has emerged from various figures in the paddock, including rival owner Chip Ganassi, who stressed the importance of maintaining the sport's integrity.

Scott McLaughlin, another Penske driver, expressed disappointment over the scandal and its impact on Roger Penske's reputation, highlighting the hard work of the team members.

Despite the turmoil, Penske drivers have a strong history of success, with 20 wins at the Indianapolis 500, and are now focused on moving forward positively.

As the Indy 500 approaches, the fallout from this scandal continues to raise questions about the integrity of Team Penske and the future of its operations.