Speedway Stars

Roger Penske

Roger Penske started racing near Philadelphia after college and was named Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1961. Penske retired from driving in 1965 to concentrate on his automotive dealerships and Penske Truck Leasing, but he never lost the competitive spark, establishing Penske Racing (now Team Penske) in 1966. Known as “The Captain,” Penske’s team boasts 20 Indianapolis 500 victories, six IndyCar Series championships, and five NASCAR Cup series titles. Penske acquired the Michigan International Speedway in 1973 and built California Speedway in 1999 before acquiring both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar series in 2019.