Last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, Josef Newgarden completed a journey to an astonishing 600 victories across all racing disciplines for Team Penske, a ride that began with the team’s first win 56 years ago.
But it’s almost certain team owner Roger Penske and Penske Racing President Tim Cindric didn’t see Newgarden’s thrilling win over teammate Scott McLaughlin as a destination. Win No. 600 was just a milestone – a big one, nonetheless – en route to more triumphs. Would it surprise anyone if Penske and Cindric already are targeting Win No. 700 or even a mind-boggling 1,000 trips to Victory Lane?
Team Penske – then known as Roger Penske Racing – earned its first victory Feb. 6, 1966 when drivers Dick Guldstrand, George Wintersteen and Ben Moore won the new GT class in the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car endurance classic while sharing the No. 6 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray coupe.
Here’s a look at some fascinating facts and figures surrounding the incredible success of Team Penske, the winningest American team in motorsports history.
MILESTONES
First win: Dick Guldstrand, George Wintersteen, Ben Moore, Feb. 6, 1966, Rolex 24 At Daytona, Daytona International Speedway, USAC-FIA sports cars
50th: Mark Donohue, July 18, 1971, Michigan 200, Michigan International Speedway, USAC Champ Car
100th: Bobby Unser, May 24, 1981, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USAC
200th: Paul Tracy, May 25, 1997, Motorola 300, Gateway International Raceway, CART
300th: Ryan Briscoe, June 1, 2008, ABC Supply A.J. Foyt 225, Milwaukee Mile, INDYCAR SERIES
400th: Brad Keselowski, Sept. 6, 2014, Federated Auto Parts 400, Richmond Raceway, NASCAR Cup Series
500th: Brad Keselowski, Sept. 16, 2018, South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR Cup Series
600th: Josef Newgarden, March 20, 2022, XPEL 375, Texas Motor Speedway, NTT INDYCAR SERIES
DRIVERS
Fifty different drivers have won at least one race for Team Penske since 1966. Here’s a look at the top five:
67 wins: Brad Keselowski
59: Mark Donohue
49: Scott McLaughlin
37: Rusty Wallace, Joey Logano, Will Power
SERIES
Team Penske has won races in 14 different global series. The five series in which it has earned the most wins:
224 wins: INDYCAR SERIES
134: NASCAR Cup Series
81: NASCAR Xfinity Series
56: Australian V8 Supercars
32: IMSA
Team Penske also has wins in SCCA Trans-Am, Can-Am, USRRC, ARCA, WEC, F5000, USAC Stock Cars, Formula One and FIA competition.
DECADES
With 600 victories, it’s pretty obvious Team Penske has won in every decade in which it has competed. Here’s a look at the top three decades:
231 wins: 2010s
111: 2000s
71: 1990s
The 2020s could redefine success for the team. It already has 55 wins this decade, which is just entering its third season. Penske’s chances to earn more trips to Victory Lane will increase in 2023 when it resumes sports car competition with a Porsche LMDh prototype.
TRACKS
Team Penske has won at 92 tracks around the world. The top five:
29 wins: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
26: Michigan International Speedway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
24: Pocono Raceway
19: Texas Motor Speedway
CONTINENTS
The Earth has seven continents, and Team Penske has won on five of them. A rundown:
533 wins: North America
58: Australia
4: South America
3: Europe
2: Asia
If Team Penske won an event in Africa, would anyone doubt if “The Captain” tried to find a race in Antarctica to sweep the globe?
STATES
Here are the top five states for Team Penske victories:
49 wins: California
36: Michigan
32: Florida, Ohio
31: Pennsylvania
For those wondering where Indiana ranks on the list, it’s No. 6, with 30 victories.