Why Team Penske is One of the Most Successful Teams in Motorsport?

Published 01/02/2024, 4:22 AM EST

Sometimes, there are teams that decide to stick a finger in every pie. Quite recently, Trackhouse Racing opted to expand its portfolio and foray into the world of MotoGP. To do that, they bought over the financially struggling RNF Racing team and will join MotoGP in 2024. However, there is one team that has perfected the art of competing in different racing series. And that is Team Penske.

The organization not only operates in NASCAR but also in IndyCar, the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and the World Endurance Championship. At one point in time, they also competed in Formula One, with one win under its belt, thanks to John Watson. However, the team has primarily stuck to NASCAR, IndyCar, and WeatherTech Sportscar racing. In NASCAR, they clinched four Cup Series titles, with Brad Keselowski, two for Joey Logano and the latest one is Ryan Blaney.

Where it all began for Roger Penske’s team

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Without a doubt, Roger Penske is a living legend in the overall motorsport scene. Sure, you have your Schumachers, Earnhardts, Pettys, and more. However, all of them carved a name for themselves in their niches. Penske has transcended most of them, as a jack of all trades, and even mastered a few of them.

Roger Penske was a racer himself and is pretty highly decorated. He is a 4-time SCCA National Champion Runoffs winner. He even competed briefly in NASCAR, Formula One, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Penske once said, “My interest in motor racing started early on, I love cars. My dad took me to Indy when I was 14, that might have been the turning point for me. IndyCar racing and just going fast.”

As a team owner, while most of his success came from IndyCar and the Indy 500, he didn’t neglect his other ventures. In 1972, Roger Penske decided that he wanted to dip a toe in the NASCAR arena. Once he did so, there was no looking back, and the team has gone from strength to strength. 142 Cup Series wins and four Cup Series championships are more than enough proof of the team’s prowess.

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Team Penske had one massive rival in all three racing disciplines

Of course, the team’s spiritual rival is Chip Ganassi Racing, who also spread their influence. CGR is relatively younger than Team Penske, especially its NASCAR division, which was established in 1989. Sadly, its tenure has been relatively short-lived, ending its operation in 2021. During that time, Chip Ganassi Racing picked up 27 wins and no Cup titles, with its most successful driver being none other than Kyle Larson with 6 wins.

In IndyCar, CGR boasts of 11 titles, compared to Team Penske’s six. Meanwhile, on the IMSA front, Team Penske took two titles, compared to none for CGR. Chip Ganassi Racing though, took a bold leap by venturing into Rallycross and Extreme E, while Penske got its foot in the door first, with Formula E. Currently, Team Penske has partnered with DragonSpeed to form DS Penske.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Ryan Blaney’s 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Victory: A Triumph of Skill and Strategy

2022 was actually a massive year for Team Penske. Not only did Joey Logano clinch his second Cup Series title, but in the same year, Will Power, IndyCar driver for Penske, took his second title. For the 2024 campaign, the NASCAR team is retaining its line-up of Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Cindric. Meanwhile, the IndyCar division is fielding Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, and Will Power. In the IMSA Series and the World Endurance Championship, Penske is allying with Porsche for 2024.

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Written by:

Growing up as a Formula One fan, I was always vaguely aware that there was a sport called NASCAR. But when I actually got to know more about it, it didn't take me long to get hooked. My closest encounter with NASCAR was back in 2009 when my family took a picture of me next to one of Dale Earnhardt Jr?s cars.

Edited by:

Ranvijay Singh

Why Team Penske is One of the Most Successful Teams in Motorsport?

Where it all began for Roger Penske’s team

Team Penske had one massive rival in all three racing disciplines

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