It’s chemistry that powers Penske
ELKHART LAKE, WIS. — As usual, Helio Castroneves took charge.
Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud came in early for their news conference after a good practice at Road America for the Team Penske drivers. Castroneves, still in his firesuit, picked up the microphone and started moderating the discussion as if he was a veteran announcer.
“You’re such a natural,” Pagenaud said to laughter. “The guy is great.”
Chemistry on and off the track has helped fuel Team Penske’s IndyCar success. All four Penske drivers are sixth or better in the points race, within 63 or less of leader Scott Dixon.
“Between us, yes, we want to kick everybody inside the team,” Castroneves said. “But we want to give the win, we want to give the championship to Roger (Penske). But we know in the end of the day, working together, racing hard ... but fair, everybody’s going to be benefit from that.”
The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner is a headliner on another impressive IndyCar roster for Penske. Pagenaud is the reigning champion. Will Power is a former series champ.
Josef Newgarden is the new guy after joining Penske in the off-season from tiny Ed Carpenter Racing. Newgarden, who finished fourth in the series last year, is the first American driver on Penske’s openwheel roster since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2007.
The quartet dominated practice and qualifying at Road America last weekend, with Castroneves taking the pole while his teammates filled out the rest of the front row. A large team allows drivers to share information, giving Penske an advantage over teams with fewer cars.
“We have on-board cameras, have data, have notes from the session. If you wanted to hide something, you just can’t,” Power said.
Added Newgarden: “Really, it’s like impossible. No joke. It’s 100 per cent impossible to hide anything.”
Not that they seem to mind. The addition of Newgarden has appeared to be seamless since he replaced Juan Pablo Montoya. They poked fun at each other all weekend in Wisconsin.
Newgarden, who turns 27 in December, is one of the circuit’s upand-coming stars. A friendly demeanour meshes well with Castroneves, the jovial veteran of the group in his 20th season.
“First of all, his talent, it definitely (suits) the team,” Castroneves said of Newgarden. “Well, his personality, it helps, too. He’s a guy that fits in.”
Known for his outgoing personality, the 42-year-old Castroneves seemed as energetic as ever at Road America after winning the pole.
“He gets faster as he gets older, like wine, matured,” Power said.
Dixon spoiled the Penske party after the Chip Ganassi Racing veteran won the Wisconsin race. The series resumes July 9 at Iowa. “It’s kind of disappointing that Team Penske didn’t get the win here today considering how strong all of the cars were. That’s the way it goes sometimes,” Castroneves said. “We’ll come back ready to go for Iowa.”