INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The build-up to the 109th Indianapolis 500 has been filled with excitement, putting Kyle Larson’s endeavor to finish the 1,100-mile NASCAR double in the background.
This week, Roger Penske faced scrutiny when he dismissed the top three executives of his IndyCar team after two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden’s and Will Power’s cars failed inspection. The team had modified a safety component which IndyCar asserted offered no competitive edge, prompting Penske’s decisive action.
A second significant violation within a year has jeopardized Penske’s reputation. As the owner of his team, IndyCar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the prestigious Indy 500—which he has won a record 20 times—this is particularly troubling for the 88-year-old.
“We faced an organizational failure not just once but twice, and it weighs heavily on me,” Penske expressed to his new partner, Fox Sports. “You have to maintain credibility, and we let people down. We will move forward, aiming to win the race.”
For the first time since 2016, the grandstands are sold out, with the Indy 500 scheduled to take place just hours before the Indiana Pacers host Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals nearby, expecting an attendance of 350,000.
“It’s unfortunate that much of the pre-race chatter focuses on this controversy,” remarked Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner. “There are many remarkable stories surrounding this event.”
First Israeli Driver in the Spotlight
Robert Shwartzman, the first Israeli driver in the 33-car lineup, will lead the field as the first rookie pole-winner since 1983. The 25-year-old, who races under the Israeli banner, is both Russian and Israeli.
Shwartzman secured his pole position with the Italian team Prema Racing, which has a strong reputation in European racing and made its IndyCar debut this season. Despite having no prior experience on an oval track, he’ll start alongside two-time champion Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward, who narrowly lost to Newgarden last year.
