In a move on Wednesday that has sent shockwaves through the world of motorsport, Team Penske has announced the immediate departure of its IndyCar Team President, Tim Cindric, a titan of the organization since 1999.
This seismic shift comes as a direct response to a damning illegal parts scandal that erupted last weekend during qualifying for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The decision, driven by the team’s uncompromising commitment to restoring integrity, underscores the gravity of the moment for an outfit that has long been synonymous with excellence but now faces a reckoning for repeated breaches of trust.
Cindric, often described as Penske’s right-hand man and de facto team boss, has been removed from his role alongside IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and general manager Kyle Moyer.
A Scandal Too Far
The catalyst for this upheaval was a stunning discovery during Indy 500 qualifying on Sunday, when the cars of two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden and teammate Will Power were abruptly pulled from the Fast 12 session.
IndyCar officials identified an illegal modification to the rear attenuators—carbon fiber weaves smoothed over to reduce drag, a clear violation of technical regulations designed to ensure a level playing field.
This was no isolated mistake but a calculated alteration, reportedly driven by Team Penske’s dissatisfaction with the aesthetics of spec parts supplied by Dallara.
Team Penske's Will Power at speed last Friday at the Speedway. (©IndyCar)
The fallout was swift and severe. IndyCar relegated Newgarden and Power to the back of the grid (32nd and 33rd positions), imposed $200,000 in fines on the entries, and suspended the team’s strategists, including Cindric and Ruzewski, for the race.
The scandal, following a 2024 push-to-pass controversy that saw Newgarden stripped of a win and Cindric banned from that year’s Indy 500, exposed a pattern of organizational failures that could no longer be ignored.
“Team Penske announced today the departures of IndyCar Team President Tim Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer from the organisation,” the team stated, signaling a dramatic restructuring.
“Team Penske will have further announcements this week related to personnel and replacements for this weekend’s Indianapolis 500.”
A Titan Falls: Cindric’s Exit and Penske’s Resolve
Tim Cindric’s departure is nothing short of monumental. For over a quarter-century, he has been the linchpin of Team Penske’s racing empire, steering the IndyCar program to 10 Indianapolis 500 victories and orchestrating a legacy of dominance across multiple series.
As Roger Penske’s right-hand man, Cindric was not just a strategist but the de facto architect of the team’s operations, a figure whose influence was felt in every facet of the organization.
His exit, alongside Ruzewski (a 21-year veteran) and Moyer (a key strategist since 2015), marks a purge of unprecedented scale, one that lays bare the team’s determination to confront its failures head-on.
©IndyCar
Roger Penske, the revered owner of Team Penske, IndyCar, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, issued a statement that left no room for ambiguity:
“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams. We have had organisational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes.
“I apologise to our fans, partners and organisation for letting them down.”
His words reflect a profound sense of responsibility, particularly as the scandal casts a shadow over this weekend’s Indy 500, an event Penske cherishes above all others.
The decision to part ways with Cindric—a figure once seen as Penske’s heir apparent—signals that no one is untouchable when the sport’s credibility is at stake.
Read also: Rookie Shwartzman rocks Speedway with stunning Indy 500 pole!
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Penske’s stunning purge: Cindric’s firing shakes IndyCar to its core F1i.com.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Penske’s stunning purge: Cindric’s firing shakes IndyCar to its core )
Also on site :