Tim Cindric Reflects on Future After IndyCar Dismissal

Austin Cindric continues to compete for Team Penske while his father, Tim Cindric, navigates life after being removed from the organization’s IndyCar program in May 2024 due to a cheating scandal. As Austin races in Australia’s Supercars series, Tim is assessing his future and exploring new opportunities outside of motorsport.

Tim Cindric, who served as president of Team Penske’s racing operations from 2005 until February 2025, stepped back from his role to focus on the IndyCar program and its museum. His tenure included guiding the team through numerous successes, including working as chief race strategist for Josef Newgarden, a two-time defending winner of the Indianapolis 500. In May 2024, Newgarden and teammate Will Power were found with illegally modified parts on their cars before the crucial qualification round for the 109th Indianapolis 500. Consequently, both Cindric and Ron Ruzewski were suspended from the race, with their teams fined $100,000.

In the aftermath of these events, Tim has taken the time to reflect on his career and future. He has stated, “I’ve just been catching up on life. I’ve had some interesting inquiries within and outside of motorsport, but I haven’t committed anything yet to speak of.” This period of downtime has allowed him to consider life beyond the racetrack, acknowledging, “There’s certainly more to life than motorsport. I’m finding out that’s all I’ve done all my life. But I’m open-minded to interesting inquiries within and outside of motorsport.”

While Tim explores various business interests, he has opted to remain at home during a time when he would typically attend races. Instead, he chose to spend Thanksgiving with his extended family in Ohio, embracing a rare moment of stillness after years of constant travel and racing commitments. He remarked on his current situation, stating, “I have a few other business interests that occupy some of my time, but they’re really nothing worth talking about. So, it’s not a whole lot going on as far as the motorsport world’s concerned.”

As Austin Cindric competes in Australia, Tim’s decision to stay home highlights a shift in priorities. The former racing executive is now considering the next chapter of his life, taking a measured approach to potential new roles. “I’ll probably be pretty selective to what I get myself into next,” he added.

Tim Cindric’s journey reflects the complexities of life after a significant career in motorsports. With his extensive experience and a wealth of knowledge, he remains open to new possibilities while cherishing the time spent with family. As the Cindric family navigates these changes, the motorsports community watches with interest to see what the future holds for both Tim and Austin.