Trio of Drivers Disqualified From 109th Indianapolis 500
Major controversy swept across the 109th Indianapolis 500 around 20 hours after the completion of the race. A trio of cars that finished inside the top 15, including runner up Marcus Ericsson, were disqualified after failing post-race inspection.
In addition to Ericsson, fellow Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood and Prema’s Callum Ilott were moved to the rear of the field. Those 3 drivers are now scored in the 31st through 33rd positions, causing a massive shakeup in the standings.
Per Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, the Andretti duo were disqualified due to modifications to the Energy Management System, a part made by Dallara that cannot be legally altered, as well as usage of unapproved spacers at mounting points in the cover-to-A-arm. Ilott’s car was disqualified due to an improper height on his left side endplate.
For Ericsson, this comes as the most recent disaster in a series of heartbreaking events for the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Champion. In 2023, Ericsson finished a devastatingly close second place. In 2024, he finished outside of the top 30, scoring virtually no points. Unfortunately for Ericsson, the 2025 running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing combined these two tragic endings into one, bringing the disappointment of being so close yet so far and the agony of having done so much work just for it to barely count for anything.
Kirkwood secured a career-best finish at IMS, gaining 19 spots during the race and finishing in sixth to maintain a top 3 position in the championship before the disqualification, and Ilott delivered a strong finish to Indycar’s newest team. With all 3 originally finishing towards the head of the pack, some big names wound up gaining several spots after inspection. Most notably of all, AJ Foyt Racing’s David Malukas was promoted to second place, and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward was promoted to yet another podium at the Indianapolis 500.
A new development, these disqualifications leave many questions, specifically around the Andretti Global team, now involved in its second cheating scandal in 6 race weekends after Colton Herta’s team was fined following the second round of the season at Thermal Club, and raising questions going forward.
Andretti Global released a statement saying, “We are in receipt of the Indianapolis 500 Post-Race Penalty Notice as provided by INDYCAR. We are taking the necessary time to assess the information and we will be requesting a full review with INDYCAR.”
written by Owen White / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment