Cheating allegations erupt as Josef Newgarden’s 2024 Indy 500-winning car also found to be illegal.
Josef Nicolai Newgarden has established himself as one of IndyCar’s most accomplished drivers over his remarkable career.
Born on December 22, 1990, the American racing driver currently pilots the No. 2 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet in the IndyCar Series.
His impressive resume includes the 2011 Indy Lights championship and two IndyCar Series Championships in 2017 and 2019.
Most notably, Newgarden achieved back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories in 2023 and 2024, making him the first driver since Helio Castroneves to accomplish this feat.
Newgarden’s racing journey began early, starting in karting at age 13 and capturing four championship titles between 2005-2006.
He transitioned to open-wheel racing through the Skip Barber Racing School Series before moving to Europe, where he competed in British Formula Ford and GP3 Series.
After returning to the United States in 2011, he dominated the Indy Lights Series with five wins and ten podiums, clinching the championship with one race remaining.
His IndyCar debut came in 2012 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, and he earned his first victory in 2015 at Barber Motorsports Park.
Joining Team Penske in 2017 proved transformative, as he immediately found success and captured his first IndyCar championship that same year.
His dominance on oval tracks has earned him the nickname “The Oval King,” demonstrating his versatility across all track types in the series.
IndyCar’s Credibility Rocked by Scandal Involving Illegal Modifications to Team Penske Cars
Newgarden’s stellar reputation faced significant damage when Team Penske became embroiled in a major cheating scandal during the 2025 Indianapolis 500 qualifying.
IndyCar officials discovered that both Newgarden’s No. 2 car and teammate Will Power’s No. 12 car featured illegal modifications to their rear attenuators – safety devices that connect the rear wing to the car.
The car Newgarden won with last year in the IMS museum appears to have modified parts as well. pic.twitter.com/QnoUwQU2aw
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) May 19, 2025
The teams had filled and smoothed over seams between the attenuator sections, creating an aerodynamic advantage that violated technical regulations.
The scandal deepened when investigators examined Newgarden’s 2024 Indianapolis 500-winning car, which was on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
The museum car appeared to have the same illegal modifications, raising questions about whether Newgarden’s back-to-back Indy 500 victories were achieved with illegal equipment.
Multiple sources claimed that these modifications had been present on Team Penske cars for months, with some teams allegedly reporting the violations to IndyCar officials as early as April 2024’s open test, only to be ignored.
IndyCar president Doug Boles imposed severe penalties on Team Penske, moving both Newgarden and Power to the back of the 33-car starting grid for the 2025 Indianapolis 500.
The organization fined the team $100,000 per car and suspended key personnel, including team president Tim Cindric and managing director Ron Ruzewski.
These penalties followed a previous controversy in 2024 when Team Penske violated push-to-pass regulations, resulting in Newgarden being stripped of his St. Petersburg victory.
The timing of the discovery raised additional controversy. Technical director Kevin Blanch initially allowed Power’s car to pass inspection despite noting potential modifications, only flagging the violations during pre-qualifying inspection on Sunday.
Critics questioned why the illegal parts went undetected through multiple previous inspections, suggesting either incompetence or willful ignorance by race officials.
Why the No. 2 and No. 12 cars were not allowed to make a Fast 12 qualifying attempt. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/4XvyZRmq8l
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2025
Some competitor teams reportedly possessed photographic evidence of the illegal modifications dating back months but failed to formally report them to series officials.
Roger Penske’s dual role as both Team Penske owner and IndyCar Series owner created significant conflict-of-interest concerns throughout the scandal. +
Many paddock insiders renewed calls for an independent governing body to oversee technical inspections and rule enforcement, arguing that Penske’s ownership of both the competing team and the sanctioning body compromised the integrity of competition.
Rival driver Pato O’Ward, who finished second to Newgarden in the 2024 Indy 500, expressed frustration about competing against potentially illegal cars, stating that Team Penske didn’t need to cheat given their resources and talent.
The scandal’s impact extended beyond immediate penalties, casting doubt on Newgarden’s recent achievements and Team Penske’s competitive integrity.
With no driver having won the Indianapolis 500 from lower than 28th position, Newgarden’s quest for an unprecedented third consecutive victory became virtually impossible from his 32nd starting position.
The controversy highlighted systemic issues within IndyCar’s technical inspection process and governance structure, forcing the series to confront questions about fairness and transparency that could affect its credibility for years to come.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Newgarden became the 16th driver to win both the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
- His first race vehicle was a motorized scooter purchased at a skate shop in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
- Newgarden won the inaugural PeopleReady Force for Good Challenge in 2022.
