Colton Herta expressed deep embarrassment after his team, Andretti Global, was implicated in a major cheating scandal following the Indianapolis 500. The controversy emerged when post-race inspections uncovered illegal modifications on the cars driven by his teammates during the prestigious event.
Details of the Technical Violations and Punishments
Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood, Herta’s teammates, were relegated to the back of the classification after officials discovered that Andretti had tampered with the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and the cover-to-A-arm mounting points by installing unapproved spacers and parts. This violation affected their finishing positions significantly, with Ericsson initially securing second place behind winner Alex Palou, and Kirkwood finishing sixth before the penalties.
While Herta was the only full-season Andretti driver who avoided sanctions, the entire team suffered both reputational and competitive setbacks due to the incident.
Herta’s Disappointment Over Team’s Reputation Damage
Speaking ahead of the Detroit IndyCar race, Herta conveyed his frustration about the scandal’s impact on the team’s image.
“I’d say it’s pretty embarrassing to be associated with cheating,”
he said.
“It’s something we as a team take really seriously to try and fix. It’s not something I want to be involved with. It’s pretty embarrassing, and it sucks.”
Impact on Race Outcomes and Driver Reactions
Ericsson had been leading the 109th Indy 500 until Alex Palou overtook him with 14 laps remaining, thwarting the Swede’s chance at a second win in four years. After the penalty, Ericsson was demoted to 31st place, just ahead of Kirkwood and Callum Ilott, who also faced penalties for technical infringements.
Despite the harsh consequences, Ericsson accepted the stewards’ decision with professionalism.
“It’s obviously very harsh penalties, but if that’s the rules, then that’s the rules,”
he explained.
“We respect the integrity of the sport. The team is looking into everything right now, so we’ll see, but I’m proud of myself and proud of the team and the way we raced.”
Andretti Team’s Fine and Consequences for Team Officials
In addition to the drivers’ penalties, Andretti Global was fined $200,000. Moreover, team managers associated with both affected cars were handed one-race suspensions. These disciplinary measures underscore the severity of the breach in regulations by the team.
Official Team Response and Forward Outlook
Andretti issued a statement following the penalties, acknowledging their disappointment but pledging to comply fully moving forward.
“Our focus now shifts to the future and delivering strong, competitive results on track, beginning this weekend with the Detroit Grand Prix.”
The statement also expressed gratitude to fans, crew members, and sponsors for their ongoing support despite the challenges.
Additional Consequences and Team Member Updates
Marco Andretti, a part-time driver for the team and the son of founder Michael Andretti, was not penalized like Herta. However, his race ended prematurely due to a crash on the first green-flag lap, compounding the difficult day for the Andretti squad.
