INDIANAPOLIS — When a man has achieved everything and more than he set out for in life, does he ever stop and ask himself, “What’s next?”
In Roger Penske’s case, the answer is “move on to the next project,” whatever that may be.
Penske’s magical Month of May moved into June in what has to be one of the most impressive streaks in Team Penske history.
It began with Simon Pagenaud winning the IndyCar Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 11. Later that night, Brad Keselowski made it a Penske sweep with a victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
It continued with Pagenaud winning the pole for the Indy 500 on May 19, and it became another glorious part of the history of the Indianapolis 500 with Pagenaud’s victory in the 103rd Indy 500 on May 26.
Penske and Pagenaud received a phone call in victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from President Donald Trump, who invited them to the White House to celebrate the team’s record-extending 18th Indianapolis 500 win.
Another Indy 500 triumph meant another Indy 500 Victory Banquet for the team before heading off to the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle.
Oh, by the way, Roger Penske is the owner and promoter of that race — the only doubleheader on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule.
On June 1, Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron drove one of Acura Team Penske’s cars into victory lane in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Later that day, Josef Newgarden extended his lead in the NTT IndyCar Series championship with a win in the rain-plagued first race of the Detroit doubleheader.
In addition, Penske helped raise $800,000 for the Belle Isle Conservatory at a gala on Friday night, May 31, to help restore the Detroit landmark and park.
That was three IndyCar Series races, all won by Team Penske. Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing snapped that streak during the second half of the Detroit doubleheader, but the Penske run resumed the following Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
For most of that contest, it looked as if Honda drivers Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Colton Herta would battle for the win, before Team Penske President Tim Cindric made the key decision that determined the race’s outcome.
Newgarden was running ninth during a caution period on lap 137 when Cindric called the driver into the pits for new tires. With only 11 cars on the lead lap at that time, there was minimal impact in Newgarden losing track position because Cindric calculated the new tires would allow him to run faster laps than any other car in the race.
He was right. Newgarden was running eight to 10 mph faster than the others and when he pitted for the final time on lap 198, his crew delivered with a perfectly executed pit stop, getting the No. 2 Chevrolet back on the track in position to win.
Newgarden grabbed the lead on lap 203 and paced the remainder of the 248-lap race to score his first victory at the 1.5-mile superspeedway.
Two days later, Joey Logano used a stellar restart to secure victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series round at Michigan Int’l Speedway, Penske’s home track.
Earlier that day, Penske led a delegation of 35 that included Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, IndyCar CEO Mark Miles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, team partner and sponsor John Menard, the Indy 500 winning crew and other key Team Penske members to the White House.
President Trump honored the winning Indy 500 team, but it was Roger Penske’s second trip to the White House in seven weeks, as Team Penske and Logano were recognized on April 30 for winning last year’s NASCAR Cup Series title.
At 82, Roger Penske shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, he has already set his next racing goal, one that would likely never be surpassed, in the biggest race on the planet — the Indianapolis 500.
What’s next for Roger Penske?
“I’ve already got win No. 20 circled,” he said.
A 20th victory in the Indianapolis 500 would be a major milestone and a number that would be difficult for any other team owner to top.
During a year in which Penske celebrated his 50th anniversary of the team’s first Indianapolis 500 in 1969, the team continues to achieve greatness.
That’s the Penske Way.