It seems like Roger Penske knows a thing or two about second chances. Last year in May, Penske’s organization was hit with a major scandal involving its IndyCar operations. As the then team president was asked to step away from overseeing nearly all of Roger Penske’s global racing operations, a role he had held for close to 25 years due to a cheating controversy, nobody saw this move coming. And now, as the former executive is preparing for one of the biggest comeback stories, he has Roger Penske to thank for the opportunity.

The longtime Team Penske powerbroker and former president, Tim Cindric, is officially heading back to the organization, this time stepping into the role of race strategist for Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet in IndyCar.

“At the end of the year, I told myself I had to choose,” Cindric said. “Either I retire and move on with life, or I find something meaningful to do in 2026. I still want to be in racing, but I also want flexibility. I’ve done the full-time thing. I’ve lived it. I was looking for something different — and this checked every box.”

Tim Cindric was dismissed in May 2025 after two of the teams were found to have an illegal modification to a rear part during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, a breach of IndyCar technical rules.

The discovery forced the affected cars to start at the back of the field and led team owner Roger Penske to fire Cindric, along with other top executives, to protect the sport’s integrity.

But now that the dust has settled on the matter, the 57-year-old is more than ready to make a comeback and right his wrongs.

What no one saw coming was a casual reconnection that changed everything. An unexpected conversation with Team Penske president Jonathan Diuguid quietly opened the door to a reunion that once seemed impossible and ultimately led to Cindric’s return in a brand-new capacity.

There’s also a deeper connection at play. Cindric was McLaughlin’s very first link to Team Penske back when the Kiwi was dominating Australia’s Supercars scene.

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The 57-year-old was instrumental in bringing McLaughlin to IndyCar after his three championships and Bathurst 1000 victory with DJR Team Penske. Until now, McLaughlin only knew Cindric as the man carrying the weight of the entire organization.

Now that the weight is gone, the impact could be massive.

With the Indianapolis native focused solely on strategy and sitting atop the timing stand, McLaughlin gains one of the sharpest minds in the paddock as he continues his push for a first IndyCar championship.

And the Kiwi couldn’t be more excited about the partnership.

“This honestly feels like the ultimate gift,” McLaughlin said. “I’m unbelievably honored to have Tim with us on the Thirsty 3s. He’s done everything there is to do in this sport, and now he’s one of us. It’s kind of surreal. Tim’s a friend, and to go racing with him, to battle together with someone who’s completely locked in on me and our strategy, that’s special. His competitiveness, his drive, his attention to detail… it’s a huge honor to have that in our corner.”

The move comes as a genuine curveball, not just because of the reunion, but because of how the role is defined. Cindric’s return is strictly race-weekend duty, perfectly aligning with his desire to stay connected to the sport without diving back into the all-consuming grind.

It’s a setup that allows him to keep racing in his life while carving out more space for family and personal business interests, a balance he’s been actively chasing since the end of 2024.

However, as Team Penske moves upward and onward, the balance between experience and fresh perspective has become a broader theme inside the organization, especially as new faces begin to integrate across racing programs.

Roger Penske’s multidisciplinary approach welcomes new driver

David Malukas, Team Penske’s latest IndyCar addition, has already started building strong relationships across the organization, particularly with Ryan Blaney and members of the NASCAR side.

Bringing a Gen Z presence into one of motorsports’ most established teams, the 24-year-old joined Penske ahead of the 2026 season as the successor to Will Power and quickly found his footing alongside some of racing’s most recognizable names.

Since stepping into the role, David has naturally gravitated to his Penske NASCAR drivers, including 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney and Tim Cindric’s son Austin Cindric.

Under Roger Penske’s multidisciplinary umbrella, Malukas has had frequent opportunities to connect through team activities, helping bridge the gap between IndyCar and NASCAR.

He admitted during IndyCar media days that his exposure to NASCAR had been limited before joining the team, but those interactions have begun to change that.

“Yeah, it’s been good for me because from my side of the NASCAR knowledge, I never really watched it and all that stuff,” he said. “Now with them, I’m starting to get into it, learning a little bit more. But Ryan has probably been the one that… Austin, too. Austin and I actually, he’s got some good memes. We were sharing some memes and stuff. He’s got a good folder.”

And now, it is just a matter of time before Malukas sees himself with Penske’s NASCAR ride, although that may take time.