More woes for Penske as #6 Porsche hit with DSQ at Le Mans

Roger Penske’s motorsport empire, renowned for its precision and professionalism, is reeling from yet another humiliating setback, this time on European soil.

On Wednesday at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the No. 6 Porsche Penske was thrown out of qualifying after failing post-session scrutineering – its car found to be underweight in breach of technical regulations.

The team’s #6 entry had ended the day fourth fastest in qualifying, comfortably earning a spot in Thursday’s first Hyperpole shootout. But the stewards swiftly overturned that result after technical checks revealed a clear rule violation.

“The minimum car weight did not comply with the relevant regulations,” the stewards’ statement read.

“The Team Manager confirmed and accepted the procedure of the scrutineering and the measurements.”

The result? Disqualification from qualifying, with the car now relegated to the back of the Hypercar class grid for Saturday’s race. The decision also promoted the #009 Aston Martin into the final round of qualifying.

Déjà Vu: From Indy Infamy to Le Mans Letdown

The setback continues a turbulent stretch for the normally buttoned-up Penske organization – long considered one of the most professional and tightly-run outfits in all of motorsport.

Just weeks ago, Team Penske's IndyCar squad was rocked by controversy when two of its, including that of reigning champion Josef Newgarden, were disqualified from their qualifying results for the Indianapolis 500.

Officials had identified an illegal modification to both car’s rear attenuators – carbon fiber weaves smoothed over to reduce drag, a clear violation of technical regulations designed to ensure a level playing field.

While the IndyCar and World Endurance Championship (WEC) operations function independently within Penske’s sprawling motorsport structure, the optics are once again uncomfortable.

Two disqualifications in two of motorsport’s biggest events – on opposite sides of the Atlantic – suggest a surprising lapse in procedural rigor from a team with a reputation for meticulous detail.

It’s a run-in with the motorsport law that feels distinctly un-Penske.

Read also:

• Penske’s stunning purge: Cindric’s firing shakes IndyCar to its core

While no malice or intent has been implied in either case, the back-to-back infractions mark a rare and very public wobble for a team typically known for its championship pedigree and no-nonsense execution.

The Le Mans demotion, though less controversial than Indy, still stings: grid position is key in the early hours of the world’s most famous endurance race, where clean air and strategic track placement can make all the difference.

From Crisis to Comeback?

Still, not all is lost. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance marathon, not a sprint — and the #6 Porsche Penske prototype remains a formidable contender, even from the back of the Hypercar field.

Expect Penske to be out for redemption this weekend in France. But there’s no doubt: the shine has dulled, and the spotlight is growing uncomfortably hot.

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