Roger Penske introduced he was shopping for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in November 2019. Since then, he has labored to enhance the sequence, all whereas persevering with to discipline groups in his numerous portfolio that features INDYCAR, NASCAR and IMSA.
The 2025 INDYCAR season has offered one thing new (FOX Sports activities now telecasts the races) and one thing seen earlier than (Alex Palou profitable) however not the kind of domination (Palou’s 4 wins within the first 5 races).
FOX Sports activities sat down with Penske on Thursday at IMS and talked concerning the state of the sequence, what he’d prefer to see on the race schedule and the brand new automobile coming in 2027. Penske additionally touched on contract renewals — each with the engine producers within the sequence and in his personal secure with Will Power.
FOX Sports activities: From the angle of your INDYCAR possession, how would you consider the primary a part of the season, the primary 5 occasions?
RP: Properly, I feel once you have a look at it general, a few of our focus, clearly, was on our TV and the partnership that we had been enterprise with FOX Sports activities. I’ve to say that is been a house run. I’ve by no means seen a accomplice that has weighed in the best way FOX has to help the partnership. We’re up roughly 25 % [through four races] over the place we had been earlier than with the previous relationship. However what’s most necessary is that this 18-to-34 age group has been up virtually 60 %, which is vital. I feel the attendance on the key races has been excellent. Clearly, Thermal was slightly little bit of a distinct focus, completely different kind of race, however we had a dedication there and clearly we carried on. [Alex] Palou, I give him a triple-A for the job that he is carried out. He is blown us off. I informed Ganassi that [he should] look forward to us at Indy, as a result of we’ll deal with you guys there. It may be a terrific race. And once you have a look at the sequence and the tracks which can be getting extra attendance, one thing’s occurring positively. We even have 27 vehicles. I bear in mind after we ran again a few years in the past, we had 17 or 18 vehicles. So the variety of groups, the standard of the groups, the sponsorship, the FOX relationship, and, definitely, I will high it off with Indianapolis. We’re very, very near a sellout. And to consider having over 330,000 folks right here — 231,000 seats that will likely be offered, and one other Tremendous Bowl value within the infield, once you consider [general admission]. What am I saying concerning the first a part of the season? I feel it is nice. Clearly, we made a administration change with [series president] Jay [Frye] transferring on. He is landed [at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing], the place he likes to be a staff principal. And I feel that [new IMS president] Doug Boles and his crew, [INDYCAR VP] Mark Sibla and the entire staff … which can be working the enterprise are doing an excellent job.
You discuss occasions and a rise in attendance. So far as the schedule for subsequent 12 months, are you taking a look at any completely different venues or a distinct mixture of tracks in terms of ovals, street programs and avenue programs?
Properly, Bob, it is key for us to have a mixture, and I feel that is one differentiation that we have now with different racing sports activities is that we have now massive tracks in Indianapolis, we have now everlasting street programs and we have now avenue programs. And I feel that is the diversification, which I feel is a plus. We definitely promote our sponsors on that. And with the dedication subsequent 12 months to go to Arlington [Texas] to race down by the Rangers and the Cowboys stadium, it may be the primary massive step that we make. And hopefully, there are different markets that we’re speaking to in the meanwhile. Nothing that I can announce proper now. However we can have that race added to our schedule, and we’re taking a look at the place we are able to go, clearly, to have the ability to add one other oval if we are able to. However I feel Arlington could be the large check-the-box for subsequent 12 months in the meanwhile.
Clearly, Palou received 4 of the primary 5 races. Is it good to have a driver dominate? Or would you prefer to see 5 completely different winners in 5 races?
It is determined by who you’re. Ganassi loves it. I would like it, too, if we had been in that place. Look, it is racing. You have seen [F1’s Max] Verstappen, you have seen different folks in NASCAR which have received races. Look, we have got to beat him. They have their act collectively. And I give them one hundred pc credit score. This isn’t something easy to do. And I do not have a look at it personally that it is good or dangerous. I feel that on the time, as a staff proprietor — you requested me concerning the sequence — possibly the sequence wants 5 completely different winners, which might be nice. However however, that is the enterprise we’re in. There’s at all times a man that is main. We’ve obtained to attempt to beat him. It’s all about execution. And I would say Palou’s on the high of his sport.
So far as the sequence, what do you’re feeling has been the most important problem up to now this 12 months?
What’s been the most important problem? I feel the actual challenge right here is to attempt to perceive the place we go sooner or later when taking a look at our new automobile, the engine producers and simply precisely what we wish to produce for the subsequent 10 years. We’ve got a great automobile in design. We’re within the wind tunnel. We anticipate to have it on the observe in October, November this 12 months. So to me, that is the large step that we’re making now in making an attempt to find out [things]. We made the choice to go together with low voltage, not excessive voltage, at this level, which I feel is the fitting transfer. And we are able to improve what we have now at the moment. It is ironic, speaking to the drivers, what number of various things they’re making an attempt to do and it actually makes a distinction even with what they’ve at the moment. So we’ll keep on that observe.
You talked concerning the engine producers. Do you have got confidence that Chevrolet and Honda will proceed with the sequence?
We’re doing every part we are able to to resume the contracts. We’re good by way of ’26, and we wish to renew these contracts. We’ve got one or two producers which have additionally proven curiosity at this level.
What have you ever been most happy with up to now this 12 months within the sequence?
That is an fascinating assertion. I suppose I am simply happy with being a part of the entire group and to see what’s occurred in Indianapolis, notably underneath the management of [Penske Entertainment CEO] Mark Miles and Doug Boles. And now the sequence has carried out a terrific job. And I feel the opposite factor, by us supporting the tracks that we have now on this sequence [through recent acquisitions], I see that basically taking maintain. It is very constructive. And we definitely have seen sponsors now which can be coming in we’ve not seen earlier than. So it is a full bundle for me. And, fairly actually, I rise up on daily basis and the glass is half full, not empty. So it is laborious for me to say one factor’s rather a lot higher than one other.
Your IMSA groups are profitable rather a lot, however how would you consider your NASCAR (two wins) and INDYCAR packages?
We have actually had extra pace in INDYCAR than we have proven. We have had some points. So I actually form of verify that off. And we had a great run right here [at Indy last week] on the street race, and I feel going into the five hundred we’re poised to be a menace. So far as NASCAR, we have got two of our vehicles already within the playoffs, and the 21 [of the Wood Brothers] is absolutely our automobile. We work with the Wooden Brothers with Josh Berry. It has been thrilling to see him step up. He is a participant now, a contender. Then you definitely have a look at the sportscar, the IMSA guys, we’ve received each race. And once you suppose it is a 12-hour and a 24-hour [among them], this isn’t a straightforward factor to do. They’ve executed completely on the high of their sport.
And the query everyone appears to be asking us round right here, is Will Power going to be again with you subsequent 12 months?
We’ve obtained a time, negotiating interval with Will that we have informed him about. He understands that fully. We’re not out knocking on doorways, and we anticipate to sit down down with him following Indy and as we get towards the tip of the season. However there is not any secret, his contract is up. He is carried out an excellent job for us. We’re simply taking a look at our choices, and I am positive he’ll, too. However in the meanwhile, we really feel assured that he will likely be again.
Is that contingent on how he does right here?
There are lots of issues that play in that. You have obtained your sponsors, you have obtained lots of issues. However so far as I am involved, he is aware of what he has to do, and we’re supporting him like we at all times have. We would like him to come back out of right here with a win, if doable. And, clearly, his skill to qualify the best way he is carried out for us has been excellent. So he’s on the high of the listing so far as what we’d do subsequent 12 months.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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