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 successful) 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 in regards to the state of the sequence, what he’d wish 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: Nicely, I believe once you take a look at it general, a few of our focus, clearly, was on our TV and the partnership that we had been endeavor with FOX Sports activities. I’ve to say that is been a house run. I’ve by no means seen a companion that has weighed in the best way FOX has to assist the partnership. We’re up roughly 25 p.c [through four races] over the place we had been earlier than with the previous relationship. However what’s most vital is that this 18-to-34 age group has been up nearly 60 p.c, which is essential. I believe the attendance on the key races has been excellent. Clearly, Thermal was a little bit little bit of a special focus, totally different sort 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 instructed Ganassi that [he should] look ahead to us at Indy, as a result of we’ll deal with you guys there. It will be a terrific race. And once you take a look at the sequence and the tracks which might be getting extra attendance, one thing’s happening positively. We even have 27 automobiles. I keep in mind once we ran again a few years in the past, we had 17 or 18 automobiles. 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 individuals right here — 231,000 seats that will likely be bought, and one other Tremendous Bowl price within the infield, once you consider [general admission]. What am I saying in regards to the first a part of the season? I believe 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 believe that [new IMS president] Doug Boles and his crew, [INDYCAR VP] Mark Sibla and the entire staff … which might 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 totally different venues or a special mixture of tracks on the subject of ovals, highway programs and avenue programs?
Nicely, Bob, it is key for us to have a mixture, and I believe that is one differentiation that we have now with different racing sports activities is that we have now huge tracks in Indianapolis, we have now everlasting highway programs and we have now avenue programs. And I believe that is the diversification, which I believe 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 huge step that we make. And hopefully, there are different markets that we’re speaking to in the mean time. Nothing that I can announce proper now. However we could 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 believe Arlington can be the large check-the-box for subsequent 12 months in the mean time.
Clearly, Palou received 4 of the primary 5 races. Is it good to have a driver dominate? Or would you wish to see 5 totally different winners in 5 races?
It is dependent upon who you’re. Ganassi loves it. I would adore it, too, if we had been in that place. Look, it is racing. You’ve got seen [F1’s Max] Verstappen, you have seen different individuals 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 take a look at it personally that it is good or unhealthy. I believe that on the time, as a staff proprietor — you requested me in regards to the sequence — possibly the sequence wants 5 totally different winners, which might be nice. However then again, that is the enterprise we’re in. There’s at all times a man that is main. We’ve acquired to attempt to beat him. It’s all about execution. And I would say Palou’s on the high of his recreation.
So far as the sequence, what do you are feeling has been the most important problem thus far this 12 months?
What’s been the most important problem? I believe the true situation 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 need to produce for the following 10 years. We now have a very good 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 believe is the proper transfer. And we are able to improve what we have now in the present day. 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 in the present day. So we’ll keep on that observe.
You talked in regards to the engine producers. Do you’ve 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 means of ’26, and we need to renew these contracts. We now have one or two producers which have additionally proven curiosity at this level.
What have you ever been most pleased with thus far this 12 months within the sequence?
That is an fascinating assertion. I suppose I am simply pleased with being a part of the entire group and to see what’s occurred in Indianapolis, significantly underneath the management of [Penske Entertainment CEO] Mark Miles and Doug Boles. And now the sequence has carried out a terrific job. And I believe 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’s extremely constructive. And we definitely have seen sponsors now which might be coming in we’ve not seen earlier than. So it is a full package deal for me. And, fairly actually, I stand up on daily basis and the glass is half full, not empty. So it is laborious for me to say one factor’s so much higher than one other.
Your IMSA groups are successful so much, however how would you consider your NASCAR (two wins) and INDYCAR packages?
We have actually had extra velocity in INDYCAR than we have proven. We have had some points. So I actually form of examine that off. And we had a very good run right here [at Indy last week] on the highway race, and I believe going into the five hundred we’re poised to be a risk. So far as NASCAR, we have got two of our automobiles already within the playoffs, and the 21 [of the Wood Brothers] is basically 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 definately take 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 simple factor to do. They’ve executed completely on the high of their recreation.
And the query all people appears to be asking us round right here, is Will Power going to be again with you subsequent 12 months?
We’ve acquired a time, negotiating interval with Will that we have instructed him about. He understands that fully. We’re not out knocking on doorways, and we anticipate to take a seat down with him following Indy and as we get towards the tip of the season. However there is no 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 certain he’ll, too. However in the mean time, we really feel assured that he will likely be again.
Is that contingent on how he does right here?
There are a whole lot of issues that play in that. You’ve got acquired your sponsors, you have acquired a whole lot 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 wish him to return out of right here with a win, if attainable. 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 checklist so far as what we would do subsequent 12 months.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
BEST OF FOX SPORTS’ INDY 500 COVERAGE:
Get extra from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
