The upcoming IndyCar schedule has raised eyebrows for its seemingly Penske-favored layouts.
- Team Penske’s front-row sweep at the 2024 Indy 500 has many questioning the nature of their dominance.
- Scott Dixon is openly skeptical about the late-season races, which are mostly on oval tracks.
- There’s discontent about the last-minute switch of the Nashville finale from a street circuit to an oval.
- Penske’s team, already under scrutiny for a cheating scandal, continues to influence IndyCar’s direction.
Team Penske dominated the 2024 Indy 500, making fans and drivers question their leadership’s influence. Of the five final races in the season, four are ovals, which might benefit Penske more than anyone else.
Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, voiced his concerns about the schedule, noting it’s “definitely interesting” that most of the remaining races are on oval tracks, which he feels could be tailored to Penske’s advantage.
This year’s schedule raised eyebrows as it started with no ovals until Indianapolis. Traditionally, there’s a race at Texas Motor Speedway before the Indy 500 to help drivers get used to oval racing, but that wasn’t the case this season.
The last-minute change of the Nashville finale from a street circuit to an oval created chaos. Teams, who built sponsorship deals around a downtown race, were left scrambling when the change was announced on social media with no support from series management.
Honda teams, in particular, are frustrated. Their drivers haven’t had the same success on ovals, and there’s an ongoing sentiment that Penske’s dual role as team owner and series owner gives them an unfair advantage.
Earlier in the season, Penske’s integrity was questioned when driver Josef Newgarden was found cheating during a race. Many feel the penalties—disqualifications, fines, and bans—were too lenient given Penske’s powerful position.
The discontent isn’t limited to just the schedule or the penalties. Hybrid powertrain delays and additional ovals further fuel the fire, making many feel that Penske’s management favors his team over the competition.
As IndyCar heads into its final races, the simmering discontent over Penske’s influence shows no signs of cooling down.
Source: Planetf1
