![]() There has been plenty of heartache along the way.ĭonohue was killed in 1975 while practicing for a Formula One race, and Penske would shutter his F1 team a couple of years later. Not everything has come up roses in victory lane, of course. "You see the commitment he has," Castroneves said, "and it's unbelievable, and what he feels really translates to everyone, and it becomes your main goal. It's a story that helps to illustrate what has made Penske so successful: He's personable and charismatic, yet hard-working and humble, with a keen eye for details and the ability to identify talent and then squeeze the best out of it. But little did Mears know, Penske had his eye on the young hotshot driver, and would hire him to drive the following year. Instead, Penske turned to him and said: "Well, just don't stick it in the fence. Trying to figure out what I need,'" Mears said, expecting some sage advice. "He said, 'How's it going?' And I said, 'I'm really struggling. "I'd already made two attempts and was scratching my head, trying to figure out what I needed to get another mile-an-hour out of the car, when I heard, 'Hey, Mears!' It was Roger, walking my way. "The first time we ever had words, I was sitting on pit lane trying to qualify in '77," Mears recalled. ![]() Danny Sullivan delivered his infamous "spin and win," and a series of Brazilian drivers - Emerson Fittipaldi, Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves - continued to elevate the team to new heights. It began a period of sustained success unlike anything in the history of motorsports: Mears won his first 500 in 1979, Bobby Unser won two years later. Four years later, he was back at the Brickyard as a team owner.ĭonohue finished seventh that first year, and second the next, before finally reaching victory lane in an Offenhauser-powered McLaren in 1972. He soon retired from driving to focus on his successful car dealerships and in 1965 launched Penske Racing at the 24 Hours of Daytona. So when he turned down the test and a young Italian named Mario Andretti took it instead, Penske's career began to change course. Penske began to carve out his name in lower-tier series, and he was even offered a rookie test at Indianapolis.īut Penske's father had always encouraged him to be an entrepreneur, and the business side of the sport was just as appealing. "I remember we sat down off the fourth turn and could hardly see the cars go by," Penske said this week, "and I guess at that point I was injected with motor racing and really wanted to drive here."įor a while it appeared his passion would manifest itself behind the wheel. But the young Penske was mesmerized by the speed and sound, his interest in all things auto racing solidified that afternoon. There was little to remember about the race itself - only eight cars were running by the finish, when Lee Wallard took the checkered flag. ![]() The love affair actually began in 1951, when Penske's father, Jay, brought his son to the fabled speedway for the first time. "He's always said, 'This is my golf game.' Auto racing is his hobby and he loves it, especially here at Indianapolis. "You know, the work ethic, the go, it really hasn't changed," said Rick Mears, who won four of Team Penske's record 17 Indy 500s.
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