A.J. Foyt Racing has issued a statement following an unintentional oversight that cost driver Santino Ferrucci $25,000 and affected his Detroit Grand Prix result. On June 1, Ferrucci finished the Detroit Grand Prix on a high note by securing second place, marking a career-best finish in the IndyCar Series. However, the celebrations were short-lived as the team and car #14 were penalized the next day.
IndyCar officials found the car to be 1.8 pounds under the required driver ballast weight during post-race inspection, with the total required weight being between 185 and 186 pounds. As a result, the team was fined $25,000 and stripped of prize money. In response, A.J. Foyt Racing released a statement acknowledging the penalty but emphasizing that the underweight condition was an unintentional oversight, not an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. They explained that the car was actually 10 pounds over the minimum total weight, and the ballast discrepancy was a mistake for which they take full responsibility. The team also committed to working closely with their technical staff to improve processes and prevent similar issues in the future.
Ferrucci’s performance at Detroit was impressive, especially considering he started 21st on the grid and managed to lead the race before being overtaken by Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global. This strong showing follows a solid start to Ferrucci’s 2025 season, which included a 14th place finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, an 11th place at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and a fifth-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, where he qualified 15th.
After the Detroit race, Ferrucci expressed his mixed emotions in an interview with Fox. He praised the team’s pit stops and strategy, admitted to struggling with tire performance during the race, and congratulated Kyle Kirkwood on his win. Ferrucci said he was particularly happy to bring Chevrolet onto the podium despite the challenges he faced during qualifying and the race itself.
Currently, Santino Ferrucci is 14th in the drivers’ championship standings with 118 points. The team and driver are now looking ahead to the upcoming Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on June 15, aiming to build on their recent performances and bounce back from the penalty setback.
