Team Penske IndyCar success has become emblematic of consistency and achievement in open-wheel racing, with the team matching Chip Ganassi Racing’s record for most series championships at 17 and sitting alone at the top with 20 Indy 500 victories. Behind the scenes, figures like Luke Mason, who moved from engineer to strategist for Josef Newgarden, are lauded for their roles in these accomplishments and in overcoming challenges, particularly during eventful seasons.
Inside Team Penske’s High-Performance Environment
Luke Mason, now Josef Newgarden’s race strategist, shared his journey within Team Penske and revealed why their environment promotes ongoing IndyCar success. Starting in 2022 as Newgarden’s performance engineer and rising to race engineer in 2023, Mason explained the unique nature of the team compared to his previous experiences in motorsport.
Reflecting on his transition, Mason credited the organizational culture and the caliber of personnel at Team Penske as the key contributors to their winning formula, emphasizing the strong foundation and high expectations for every member.
“You take all those learnings and everything that you’ve built up over your career there to maybe be fortunate enough to have the door open to come to Team Penske. At that point, you’re ready, and it’s not until you step in the door and meet the people who made that company and organisation who it is, you understand how and why.”
— Luke Mason, Race Strategist
Mason underscored how success is part of the team’s fabric, highlighting his personal milestones since joining, including involvement in Will Power’s championship and Josef Newgarden’s recent Indy 500 wins.
“Now to be to be a part of that and to have success at Team Penske, whether it’s Will’s championship the first year (2023) I was there, and then moving on to Josef’s two 500s (2023 and 2024), it’s a very special place to be and you don’t take it for granted every day when you walk into work that you’re surrounded by successful people.”
— Luke Mason, Race Strategist
Turning a Crisis into Opportunity: The 2025 Indy 500 and Team Changes
The 2025 Indy 500 qualifying weekend became a turning point for Team Penske, introducing both adversity and a shakeup in leadership. Ahead of the Fast 12 in qualifying, both Josef Newgarden’s and Will Power’s entries were found with unauthorized modifications to their rear attenuators during technical inspection. This violation led IndyCar officials to impose fines of $100,000 per car and relegated both drivers to the back of the starting field for the race, dramatically altering their championship prospects.
The consequences were immediate and severe: Team owner Roger Penske responded by dismissing senior IndyCar management, including President Tim Cindric and Managing Director Ron Ruzewski, both of whom also held pivotal roles as race strategists for Newgarden and Power. This left the team scrambling for strategic leadership mere days before motorsport’s most celebrated race.
Luke Mason Steps Up as Race Strategist
In the wake of these firings, Team Penske opted to promote internally. Luke Mason was elevated from Newgarden’s race engineer to his interim, and then full-time, race strategist for the remainder of the IndyCar season. This swift change placed Mason at the center of Team Penske’s efforts to maintain their competitive edge under intense scrutiny.
At the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, the new partnership between Newgarden and Mason yielded immediate results. Despite starting from 32nd place—a consequence of the earlier infraction—Newgarden, leveraging Mason’s race strategy and demonstrating remarkable skill on the oval, carved his way into the top five before an unexpected fuel system issue brought a premature end to their race. Although the mechanical failure ended their bid for victory, the team’s ability to adapt under pressure and perform at the highest level was once again on display.
What Sets Team Penske Apart in IndyCar
Team Penske’s record achievements—including the highest number of Indy 500 wins and a legacy of championships—can be attributed to its culture of excellence, talent development, and capacity for internal resilience during crises. The elevation of Luke Mason amid the fallout of the 2025 Indy 500 controversy underscores the organization’s depth and readiness to meet challenges head-on, maintaining their reputation as leaders in professional racing. With figures like Roger Penske steering overarching decisions and contributors such as Mason rising through the ranks, the team’s formula for IndyCar success is continually reinforced, promising ongoing impact in the series in the years ahead.
