In a powerful display at Phoenix Raceway, Team Penske racing success stood out as Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, and Ryan Blaney swept the top five during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying for the Straight Talk Wireless 500, coinciding with the organization’s 60th anniversary. The achievement came as both Team Penske’s NASCAR and IndyCar squads took on the Arizona oval—an exciting moment for the legendary motorsport group.
Penske Drivers Claim Top Qualifying Spots at Phoenix
Joey Logano led the Penske trio during Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Avondale, Arizona. Clocking in at 26.561 seconds (135.537 mph) in his No. 22 Ford, Logano secured the pole position. Austin Cindric followed closely, qualifying second at 26.731 seconds (134.675 mph) in the No. 2 Penske Ford, and Ryan Blaney rounded out the group in the fifth spot. This strong performance was mirrored in the NTT IndyCar Series, where Penske’s David Malukas, Josef Newgarden, and Scott McLaughlin all started their respective race in the top five, with Malukas on pole for the Good Ranchers 250 and Newgarden beside him on the front row. Scott McLaughlin slotted into the fifth starting position, highlighting the depth of talent on the team.
Reflections on Teamwork, Rivalry, and Historic Colors
This milestone weekend was more than just about speed. Team Penske racing success was also celebrated by showcasing a special livery commemorating McLaughlin’s Bathurst 1000 triumph as part of his record-breaking 2019 Supercars season. Logano emphasized the pride in carrying these iconic colors and the significance it brought to the team:
“There’s a little rivalry there. I don’t know if we really talked about it, but I think internally all of us want to deliver some wins this weekend. Our paint scheme for this weekend is also really special. That was really big for his career, but also really big for Team Penske. And that car won 18 races that year. It was a boatload. So he’s definitely done a lot in that paint job. It’s neat to continue some of that success, at least in qualifying.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
With many Team Penske marketing partners present at Phoenix Raceway, Logano spoke about the increased motivation this brings to perform in front of supporters:
“You want to make sure you have a good running. There’s times where everybody’s there and you win, and there’s really nothing better than that. So everybody’s here and it’s nice to show that all the Team Penske cars are fast. Our three cars, the three Indy cars… all looked solid yesterday in practice, as well. So now it’s about executing the race, which is the hard part.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
Qualifying Performance and Strategy Insights
Logano reflected on his strong qualifying run, attributing his speed to the quality of the car and disciplined execution. He remarked on the uncertainty present in modern NASCAR qualifying sessions, acknowledging how tough competition and small margins make every lap critical:
“These days you just don’t know. You just go out there and you go as fast as you can, and you don’t know if you’re going to be 30th or first. It’s really hard to say before the run starts. [Cindric] had a pretty good lap going out early and still was able to qualify thinking the top five there. So that’s pretty impressive to do it as early as he did.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
He also discussed the nuances of the car’s handling and his confidence in its potential:
“It’s nice to show that all the Team Penske cars are fast. Our three cars, the three Indy cars.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
“It’s funny because it doesn’t drive nice, but this pace was there—which is encouraging for tomorrow, because it still feels like there’s some areas to get better. I didn’t have to do anything crazy to make speed. It just happened.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
The Penske Spirit and Leadership Influence
Roger Penske’s leadership was not far from drivers’ minds as the team celebrated another milestone. Joey Logano, already a 37-time Cup race winner, expressed his appreciation for his relationship with “The Captain,” especially as Penske recently marked another birthday:
“As a driver for him or just even someone just on the team, those are the people you want to be around—somebody that’s going to do something the right way, that’s going to do it in a professional way, but is also very competitive and wants to win no matter what it is: business, racing, you name it. He’s going to want to be the best at it. And you can imagine as a competitor, no matter what your position is on a team, you want to be with the best, right? You can’t soar like an Eagle when you’re working with turkeys—and he’s an eagle.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
Momentum Boosted by IndyCar Success
The synergy between Team Penske’s NASCAR and IndyCar efforts was on full display during the weekend. After Josef Newgarden secured victory for the team in the Good Ranchers 250 IndyCar race, Logano felt even more compelled to deliver a strong performance on the NASCAR side:
“We don’t want to hear the trash talk at the shop at Mooresville, N.C., about them winning and us not.”
– Joey Logano, Pole Winner
Looking Ahead to the Phoenix Feature Race
The Straight Talk Wireless 500, set for Sunday at 12:30 p.m., represents more than a race for Team Penske. The team’s top qualifying sweep in both major series at Phoenix underscores their 60-year legacy of racing achievement. With key figures like Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, David Malukas, Josef Newgarden, and Scott McLaughlin at the forefront, Team Penske’s focus now turns to converting qualifying dominance into another chapter of competitive glory. As the event approaches, all eyes will be on how Team Penske racing success continues to shape the storylines both on and off the track.
