Curt Cavin

IndyStar

100th Indianapolis 500 is May 29

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The winningest person in Indianapolis 500 history will be the celebrity pace car driver for next month's Indianapolis 500, IndyStar reported.

Roger Penske never drove to victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In fact, he never drove an Indy car there at all, deferring his chance to take a rookie test in 1964. Another hotshot eventually got that opportunity. Perhaps you've heard of Mario Andretti.

But Penske went on to grow his automotive business into a global leader, and excel on the track he won races at a staggering rate. His record collection of Indianapolis 500 trophies stands at 16 — and likely counting. He has four drivers set for a chance at victory lane again this year, but this time he will literally and figuratively lead them there.

This will be his first chance to drive the pace car, and it comes in the 50th anniversary of Penske Racing's formation.

As has been said, he's the perfect choice to honor the 100th running of the 500.

Penske was formally confirmed Monday to drive the Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition.

Penske won his first 500 with Mark Donohue in 1972 and last year’s race with Juan Pablo Montoya. In between were some of the greatest drivers IndyCar has ever known: Rick Mears, Bobby Unser, Danny Sullivan, Al Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Gil de Ferran and Sam Hornish Jr. In all, 11 drivers have a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy thanks to Penske and his staff.

No other team owner has won the 500 more than five times.

Penske’s cars also have won a record 17 poles for the 500, most recently with Ryan Briscoe in 2012. Mears won a record six, Castroneves four. In a Penske car, Tom Sneva became the first driver to exceed 200 mph in qualifying.

Penske will drive a Chevrolet, whose officials recommended him for the honor. Chevrolet will provide the pace car for a record 27th time and 14th in succession.

Penske, 79, happens to be one of the few 500 legends who has not driven the pace car for the 500. A.J. Foyt did in 2011. Parnelli Jones did in 1994 and ’98. Fittipaldi did in 2008. Dario Franchitti did in 2014. Johnny Rutherford did in 1997 before becoming IndyCar’s regular pace car driver. Bobby Unser did in 1989.

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IMS founder Carl Fisher was the pace car driver for the first five races. Another track owner, Eddie Rickenbacker, drove it in 1925. Men named Stutz, Duesenberg, Chevrolet and Ford have steered the pace car coming to the green flag.

Penske attended his first 500 in 1951 with his father, and he became a race-winning sports car driver, so accomplished that he once was named Sports Illustrated’s Sport Car Club of America’s Driver of the Year. Penske was offered the chance to take a rookie test at IMS, but he turned it down to focus on his growing business ventures. Mario Andretti took his place. That worked out well for both men.

Penske Racing entered its first motor sports race in 1966 – that was the 24 Hours of Daytona, a sports car race – and three years later it arrived at Indy for the first time. Penske's goal was to win the 500 within three years; Donohue won in the fourth. Do the math: A Penske car has won the 500 nearly once for every three races since.

The 500 is May 29.

Follow IndyStar reporter Curt Cavin on Facebook and Twitter: @curtcavin

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