Pato O’Ward Demands Penske Cars Face LCQ After Rules Breach

Pato O’Ward will start the 109th Indianapolis 500 from the front row after taking third in qualifying, but he made headlines with his comments about Team Penske. Following qualifying, O’Ward addressed the media and spoke out about the technical violations that affected Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s cars during the Fast 12 session.

Both Penske entries were cited by IndyCar officials for an issue with the rear attenuator, a part at the back of their Chevrolet machines. Newgarden’s No. 2 and Power’s No. 12 had the same problem come inspection, causing both cars to be withdrawn from the session before turning a lap. For more details on IndyCar technical regulations, you can refer to the official IndyCar rulebook.

Penske tried to fix the issue in the garage, hoping to return and post a valid qualifying run. However, officials ruled they could not continue, forcing both out of qualifying.

Scott McLaughlin, the third Penske driver, missed qualifying after a crash earlier in Sunday morning practice. As a result, Newgarden, Power, and McLaughlin ended up sharing Row 4 for the start, lining up in the 10th to 12th positions on the grid for the race. More details on recent crashes can be found here.

O’Ward expressed strong opinions about how things played out. He stated that the violation did not look like an accident, pointing out that a blowtorch was spotted in the garage as the team tried to remove the illegal part.

O’Ward said the Penske cars did not meet regulations and felt for drivers like rookie Jacob Abel, who missed the Indy 500 after being out-qualified in the Last Chance Qualifying (LCQ) session. Abel was edged out by Rinus VeeKay, Marcus Armstrong, and Marco Andretti, making him the lone driver unable to advance into the field. For more on the history of the Indianapolis 500 and its qualifying format, visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s official page.

Meanwhile, all three Penske cars were quick enough to reach the Fast 12 before being flagged for their technical infraction. In O’Ward’s view, the punishment did not fit the offense.

He said the affected cars should have been sent back to the LCQ and not allowed to secure their original spots. He argued that if a car is found illegal, the disqualification should apply to their previous attempt as well, not just future attempts.

O’Ward made it clear he believed the rules are straightforward and teams should meet them every time. Despite the controversy, O’Ward shared that Penske’s record shows they have no reason to bend rules, praising both the team and its drivers for their overall excellence and competitiveness in the series.

But he questioned the decision-making that led to the incident, stating it didn’t make sense to take those risks when the team has proven, winning talent on their roster. The incident has fueled conversations about fairness, with O’Ward calling for stricter checks and consistent enforcement of IndyCar’s regulations to keep the field level for everyone attempting to make the race. For further insights into motorsport governance, the FIA’s official site provides extensive resources.

For race fans, the Indianapolis 500 remains one of motorsport’s most watched and scrutinized events. Qualifying drama like this keeps drivers, teams, and officials in the spotlight in the days leading up to the green flag.

With the 2025 field now set and O’Ward firmly on the front row, attention will turn to race day to see if any teams can convert strong starting spots into victory at the Brickyard.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.