The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge takes place on Sunday against the backdrop of a difficult weekend for Team Penske.
Scott McLaughlin in the No.3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet starts the Greatest Spectacle In Racing from 10th on the grid.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden in the No.2 Shell V Power Nitro Plus Team Penske Chevrolet and teammate Will Power in the No.12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet will have it all to do starting the race from 32nd and 33rd respectively.
Speaking on Indy 500 media day, McLaughlin said:
Ultimately, those three guys are friends of mine and have done a tremendous amount in my career to get me to this point. I guess you could say there’s a sadness from my perspective.
At the end of the day I drive for Roger Penske. I respect the decision. I understand the decision. We move forward. I think I’m disappointed in some of my peers and people in this room, just how it was taken out of proportion in some ways.
At the same time, I think people forget just what Roger’s done for this sport in general, and that definitely gets thrown to the side a little bit, which I find a hard time not being passionate about that.
But ultimately what’s done is done. This happened. We have to move forward. The penalties are accepted. Personally I think I had the fastest car, I put it in the fence. I didn’t have what was said. Smart people in this paddock know there was no gain with that, you know?
It’s frustrating that this is blown up like it has and it’s cost three people that I’m very close with their jobs. But overall, my view on it right now is just to focus forward and win Roger his 21st.
I tell you what, there’s that much motivation in our garage, within the team, within my stand. I’m excited to work with Ben even closer than I have before. I think we’ve got amazing people coming in from a substitute perspective helping us out, Jonathan Diuguid, Raul Prados, people that have won this race before.
Yeah, you haven’t heard from me because I wanted the chance to just say that. I’m not really going to speak too much more on that.
Will Power just said that it is a huge pity that the three individuals, Tim Cindric, Ron Ruzewski and Kyle Moyer have now left the team.
It will be interesting to see if Newgarden and Power can make their way through the field.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon and Alex Palou are going to be extremely quick and will be ones to watch.