Unforgettable Car Geniuses: Roger Penske

Roger Penske, an American from Ohio, has built his immense fortune thanks to two closely linked talents: a passion for cars and racing combined with his commercial genius. Thus, working tirelessly despite just turning 88, he not only manages his racing operations, including ownership of the Indianapolis circuit, but also oversees a vast business empire with an annual turnover of nearly $40 billion. His main ventures include car dealerships in both the U.S. and Europe, as well as a renowned truck rental and logistics network known for its efficiency.

Roger Penske, having just turned 88, remains ever-present in the pits, supervising the team that bears his name.

Despite running a massive corporation, he remains deeply dedicated to racing, and almost every weekend, he can be found at a track overseeing his teams — an embodiment of pure passion for motorsports. His enthusiasm was nearly moving when he celebrated as the Porsche 963 crossed the finish line at the 24 Hours of Daytona this past January. Since 1969 — yes, you read that right — despite success elsewhere, including an incredible 20 victories at the Indianapolis 500, he had not won at Daytona. But as they say, perseverance pays off, and what once seemed like an insurmountable challenge has finally been conquered!

Team Penske returns to overall victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona with the Porsche 963 after a long wait since 1969.

After a successful career as a driver, Penske opened a Chevrolet dealership in Philadelphia in 1965. This was the beginning of an empire that today includes countless brands and a vast network of powerful commercial and service structures. To manage his massive business, he constantly travels across the Atlantic in his private jet, practically using it as a home. Even though his business was thriving from the start, racing remained his true passion, and in 1966, he founded Team Penske, initially competing with Corvettes. After debuting at Daytona and Sebring, he aimed higher and signed the renowned driver Mark Donohue to race with a Lola T70 in the United States Road Racing Championship and the Can-Am series. Team Penske quickly made a name for itself, winning two consecutive USRRC championships and three SCCA Trans-Am titles. In 1969, a major milestone was reached: the team made its debut at the Indianapolis 500, where Donohue finished seventh and was honored as "Rookie of the Year".

Team Penske boasts an incredible 20 victories at the Indianapolis 500, a journey that began with Mark Donohue in 1972.

This was just the beginning. The Indiana oval would bring Team Penske 18 more victories, the first in 1972 with Donohue, followed by four wins with driver Rick Mears, three with Helio Castroneves, and many more. As we’ve seen, Penske is far from done — he even bought the legendary Indianapolis circuit in 2020, along with its historical legacy. The team’s immense success in America also led them to Formula 1, making their debut in 1974 and competing for two full seasons in 1975 and 1976. While F1 yielded fewer triumphs, they did manage to win one race — the Austrian Grand Prix — with John Watson driving the Penske Ford PC4. The American team has celebrated victories in many other racing categories, including the Can-Am Series and NASCAR. The team’s story continues to this day, having marked its 50th anniversary in 2016 and winning the 2024 FIA WEC World Championship. And Roger Penske, now 88, remains as dedicated as ever. Simply magnificent!

Roger Penske celebrates with Laurens Vanthoor after Porsche clinched the 2024 WEC Drivers' Championship together with André Lotterer and Kevin Estre.