Cindric Rejoins Penske Strategy Ranks

Team Penske has confirmed its race strategy line-up for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season, with the headline development being the return of Tim Cindric to the timing stand. The former Penske president will serve as race strategist for Scott McLaughlin, marking a notable comeback less than a year after his high-profile departure from the organisation.

The announcement, made on Thursday, completes Penske’s strategic framework for the upcoming campaign. Team president Jonathan Diuguid will continue to call strategy for two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, while Travis Law has been entrusted with guiding newcomer David Malukas through his first season with the storied team.

Cindric’s reappointment is particularly striking given the circumstances of his exit. In May 2025, he was dismissed alongside IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and general manager Kyle Moyer after two of Penske’s three cars failed technical inspection during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Officials discovered unapproved modifications to the rear attenuators on the entries of Newgarden and Will Power, triggering a major controversy that followed on from the push-to-pass scandal that rocked the paddock the previous year.

Those incidents raised widespread concerns about governance and competitive integrity within the series, particularly given Roger Penske’s ownership of both Team Penske and IndyCar itself. In response, an Independent Officiating Board was established, incorporating an FIA-affiliated member alongside representatives appointed by rival chartered teams, albeit still funded by Penske.

While Ruzewski and Moyer quickly found new roles at Andretti Global and Arrow McLaren respectively, Cindric spent several months away from frontline competition. His return suggests that bridges within the Penske organisation were never fully burned, and that his experience remains highly valued.

“Tim brings decades of experience to Scott’s timing stand,” Diuguid said. “Given his knowledge of our organisation and of race-day decision-making at the highest level, he will be a great asset in the strategist role.”

Diuguid also expressed confidence in the overall structure of Penske’s 2026 effort, highlighting the depth of its engineering staff and the stability around Newgarden’s programme. Penske enters the new season aiming to reassert itself at the sharp end of one of the most competitive fields in recent IndyCar history, beginning with the traditional opener on the streets of St Petersburg.

Cindric’s return coincides with further changes to McLaughlin’s side of the garage. Raul Prados replaces Ben Bretzman as race engineer, while David Hunt steps in as spotter in place of Adam Fournier, signalling a comprehensive reset around the New Zealander as he targets championship contention.

Team Penske 2026 IndyCar Strategy Line-up

With Cindric back in a race-day role and several personnel changes across the squad, Team Penske is signalling both continuity and renewal as it seeks to move beyond recent controversies and reclaim its customary position at the front of IndyCar competition.