Why American racing's top dog is without equal

By:

David Malsher-Lopez

Jan 11, 2021, 10:39 AM

A byword for success in business and in motorsport for over 50 years, Roger Penske's importance to the US scene cannot be understated. In an exclusive interview, the custodian of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway reflects on his journey

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Roger Penske runs the most iconic and diverse motorsport team in American history, and since the last off-season he has also owned both IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Most remarkably, though, is that he is a regular Joe human - yet a G.I. Joe hero on the race track and in the boardroom.

Penske will consider a matter from all angles before making a decision but can form that 360-degree view swifter than most and his subsequent decision is usually the right one. He gets involved at all levels in his team, yet knows when to observe and listen without micro-managing, because he's already installed managers who emulate his conscientious style. He is an entrepreneur extraordinaire and is single-minded in his pursuit of success, but in this instance 'single-minded' does not mean determination driven by blind optimism: Roger Penske is the ultimate realist.