WOW. Didn't see that coming. I can only think this is good for Indy car and the Indy 500.
it's been rumored off and on for years (certainly since Penske ditched CART to go back to the IRL) I think it's a great thing. Hulman family did a great job but I think running the track and series is outside their wheelhouse these days.
This insures the Speedway will continue and improve forever. The day they stop racing at the Speedway will be the day Auto racing is banned in America.
One question comes to mind: Will Penske have any influence in writting the Indycar regulations in future (like Tony George did) ? Will they abandon the "specs series" format ? Okay, that's 2 questions ...
Story breaking now. The landscape in American open wheeled racing has just changed dramatically. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roger-penske-buys-indianapolis-motor-speedway-indycar/ BHW
Penske is 1) a racer 2) a brilliant business and marketing man 3) wealthy and well connected 4) deeply respected It can't hurt!
Tony George owned an IRL team various members of the France family own or have owned NASCAR and IMSA teams I don't see a problem.
Don Panoz owned ALMS. Andy Evans owned Professional Sports Car Racing. Oh... Andy probably not a good example. BHW
Fantastic news. The Captain will be the absolute best steward for IMS and IndyCar, bar none. No one else even comes close.
I wonder if they'll try to bring back F1? There's zero they have to do other than pay the sanctioning fee. I would rather go there than Miami!
After the Indianapolis F-1 fiasco, F-1 vowed that they'd never race on an roval again. You have to think the teams would be in an uproar if they did. BHW
Why? That was all on Michelin. Plus, they have the chicane now that slows them down on the oval. It's a new day. Again, I would much rather go to The Indianapolis Motor Speedway than some gawd-awful parking lot in Miami.
If this means that Tony George is finally gone from the racing scene shouldn't there be a National Holiday of some sort?
Today's society is much different than the past, I see issues in the future. Indy has some good momentum building, I hope this doesn't deter that at all. PS - this is no slight against Penske, I think he has been great for racing in many ways, just worried about today's perception of things....
I would too but Pirelli would probably throw a pissyfit. “Whaa? Now we-uh gotta make-uh the pneumatici wear out molto rapidamente on-uh the oval too? Pazzo!”
If Bridgestone (back in 2005 in F1) and Firestone (currently on the IndyCars) can do it, so can Pirelli. Semplicita!
Who said he bought it to use for racing? Roger's timeline is rather short. This type of investment is for the long haul. None of his children are involved with the sport at this time. Maybe a plan for the Penske Corporation is in place for IMS. It is a central location that could provide his other entities advantages over the competition. Will be interesting to watch. Please come and join us at our new 500 home housing project called " Brickyard Estates".