Penske Racing Owner Roger Penske thinks IndyCar teams that run the entire season "should be guaranteed spots" in the Indianapolis 500 after star Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver James Hinchcliffe was bumped from Sunday's event, according to Dave Skretta of the AP. Penske said, "With sponsors being so important and the teams building up for Indianapolis, and that really being the hallmark of probably your sponsorship running at Indy, it's a real tough pill to take if you don't make the race." Hinchcliffe was bumped from the field, and one of the "largest tents on the infield of Indianapolis Motor Speedway carries the logo of Arrow Electronics," the primary sponsor on his car for SPM. Penske said, "We need to step back and look at this and be sure that people who commit for a full season know they have a place in the Indy 500, because the world has changed." Penske "understands the importance of keeping bump day alive," but he also "thinks there could be a compromise where perhaps the last 10 or so spots -- after the full-time teams get theirs -- would be left open for anyone." Several drivers "mentioned eliminating double points for the Indy 500 -- or eliminating points entirely" (AP, 5/24). Hinchcliffe said, "I do not think it should be a points race at all. I’ve never been a supporter of double-points races. ... This should be our All-Star race, so that way it’s the 33 best teams and drivers, so that way you don’t have to worry about the contractual commitments to sponsors." He added that the differences between the Indy 500 and the other races during the season "means it should be treated differently" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/25).
Hinchcliffe, whose car carries the logo of Arrow Electronics, was bumped from the Indy 500 fieldgetty images
