the staff of the Ridgewood blog
INDIANAPOLIS IN, a stunning move just days before the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, Team Penske has fired three of its highest-ranking IndyCar executives amid an ongoing cheating scandal. The fallout includes the dismissal of Tim Cindric, Ron Ruzewski, and Kyle Moyer — a move that has shaken the motorsports world.
Integrity Crisis: Major Shakeup at Team Penske
Team owner Roger Penske, who also owns IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indy 500, issued a statement on Wednesday:
“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams. We have had organizational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down.”
The firings follow the discovery of illegal modifications made to cars driven by Josef Newgarden and Will Power, both of whom have since been penalized.
Illegal Parts Found on Team Penske Cars
Just before the final qualifying round for the Indy 500, rival teams, including Chip Ganassi Racing, raised concerns over unauthorized modifications to the rear attenuators of the No. 2 and No. 12 Penske entries. The attenuator is a crucial safety component, and the alleged aerodynamic enhancements were seen as a competitive advantage in qualifying runs.
As a result:
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Newgarden and Power were disqualified from qualifying.
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Both drivers were placed at the back of the field (32nd and 33rd).
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Penske’s cars were fined $100,000 each.
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Cindric and Ruzewski had already been suspended for the race.
Second Cheating Scandal in Two Seasons
This marks the second consecutive season Team Penske has been embroiled in controversy. In 2024, Newgarden was disqualified from a race win after an illegal push-to-pass system was discovered, giving him unauthorized horsepower. That scandal also resulted in Cindric’s suspension for two races, including the Indy 500.
Unprecedented Firings Shake IndyCar
Motorsports journalist Marshall Pruett of Racer.com called the move “unparalleled.”
“It’s the biggest of bombshells… I cannot think of a single instance in IndyCar racing where this many senior-level folks have been fired all at once and days before the Indy 500. Never seen it before.”
Fallout for Cindric, a Penske Legend
Tim Cindric, who had been with Team Penske since 2000, was seen as Roger Penske’s right-hand man. Inducted into the Team Penske Hall of Fame, he was once President of Penske Performance and oversaw daily operations across Penske’s racing programs.
Although he stepped back from broader roles in February 2025, Cindric remained President of the IndyCar division until his dismissal this week.
IndyCar Vows to Strengthen Oversight
At a Wednesday news conference, IMS President Doug Boles said the series is now working to ensure independent officiating and technical inspection.
“We are removing any influence from Penske or Penske Entertainment, so there’s no ability to say there’s bias or conflict of interest,” Boles stated.
However, concerns about IndyCar’s integrity are likely to intensify, especially given Penske’s dual role as team owner and series owner.
What’s Next for Team Penske?
With the Indy 500 just days away, the timing of these firings could have serious competitive and reputational implications. Newgarden and Power now face an uphill battle from the back of the field, while Penske looks to restore trust and transparency within the sport.
As critics and fans continue to demand answers, one thing is clear: IndyCar’s credibility is on the line.
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