Indy 500 runner up Marcus Ericsson, two others DQd after post-race inspection

Following IndyCar post-race inspection for the Indy 500, three drivers have been disqualified, including runner-up Marcus Ericsson. Along with Ericsson, Kyle Kirkwood (originally P6) and Callum Ilott (P12) also failed inspection and were relegated to the rear of the field.

Perhaps it is best that Alex Palou beat Marcus Ericsson. Had Ericsson won the race with an illegal car, giving the win to Palou in P2, it would have tainted the Indy 500 win. However, Palou won fair and square and is still celebrating.

This gives David Malukas P2 and Pato O’Ward P3 for the new podium, just behind Palou. Helio Castroneves is now credited with P10. IndyCar was caught in a whirlwind of controversy prior to the Indy 500 with the Team Penske scandal. It is clear they are taking inspections much more seriously.

Each team has been fined $100,000. The team/competition managers from each car have been suspended for the next race at Detroit.

BREAKING: The No. 27 and 28 entries from Andretti Global, and the No. 90 from PREMA Racing have been moved to the rear of the Indianapolis 500 field after failing post-race technical inspection. All three cars have been re-ordered based on their unofficial finishing positions.… pic.twitter.com/7SVZ3n3EXx

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 26, 2025

When it comes to the Indianapolis 500, winning is really all that matters. Drivers aren’t out there looking to score as many points as possible or making the most of their day. If you don’t win, disappointment is usually the only feeling inside.

What will make this hurt for Andretti Global and PREMA Racing is in the pocketbook. On top of the fine, they now don’t get the money for the strong finishing positions that they had. Perhaps less so for PREMA, but Andretti lost two top-10 finishes. That will be a big financial hit as the runner-up generally makes more than $1,000,000 for the Indy 500.

Sunday was a hectic race. The cool temperatures in the air and on the track led many drivers to make mistakes. We saw multiple incidents on pit road.

Indy 500 drama continues into post-race inspection

The 2025 Indy 500 is going to be remembered for years to come as perhaps one of the most chaotic and controversial of all-time. It all started during qualifying, a week before the race. Let’s run through the timeline:

2025 Indianapolis 500 controversies and mishaps:
-Team Penske found with illegally modified attenuators in qualifying
-Same illegally modified part found on 2024 race-winning car of Josef Newgarden
-Penske fires entire IndyCar leadership team, including Tim Cindric
-Rain delays start, endangers Double attempt for Kyle Larson
-Scott McLaughlin wrecks on pace laps
-Marco Andretti wrecked on first green flag lap
-Alexander Rossi fire on pit road
-Multiple pit road spins, wrecks
-Robert Shwartzman crashes into pit crew
-Triple DQ after Indy 500 finish

Throw into that the fact that Alex Palou won his first oval race and of course, first Indy 500, and the race is going to be memorable for years to come. What a strange two weeks in IndyCar, and not necessarily a good two weeks, either.

So, it is on to Detroit for the series. While the biggest race of the year has come and gone, there is still more racing to be had.