Team Penske delivered a dominant performance at Phoenix Raceway, capturing both the NASCAR Cup Series and INDYCAR wins during a high-stakes weekend in Avondale, Arizona. This impressive Team Penske Phoenix sweep sent a clear signal that the organization is eager to reassert itself as a major championship contender in both racing series after a challenging previous season.
As Phoenix became the meeting ground for elite drivers, the pressure mounted, and Team Penske’s roster responded decisively. Ryan Blaney executed a crucial win in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup event, following Josef Newgarden’s victory in the INDYCAR race just one day earlier. Both drivers recognized the weight of expectation and the symbolic importance of their achievements.
Revival After a Turbulent Year
Team Penske entered its 60th racing season with much to prove after failing to secure championships in either INDYCAR or NASCAR the previous year. The struggles of 2025 were compounded by executive changes, including the surprising departure of Will Power and a difficult INDYCAR campaign marked by only two wins. Meanwhile, the NASCAR side garnered six victories, but none of its drivers reached the final championship showdown.
For team owner Roger Penske, whose legacy includes building tracks and steering motorsport growth in the United States, sweeping Phoenix represents a long-awaited momentum shift. The wins came at a time of organizational celebration and transformation, setting the stage for a renewed pursuit of titles.
Behind the Scenes: Changes and New Faces
While the NASCAR crew chief and driver lineup remained largely steady, INDYCAR underwent significant changes. A new team of strategists took charge for Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, with David Malukas joining as a new addition after Will Power’s exit. Tim Cindric, formerly team president, transitioned to work as McLaughlin’s strategist, while Jonathan Diuguid took over as Newgarden’s strategist in a wholesale restructuring effort.
Josef Newgarden, reflecting on this evolving dynamic, shared:
“You could plug into any one of these cars at Team Penske, and you would have a great unit around you,”
—Josef Newgarden, Team Penske INDYCAR driver. He explained that working with different strategists in recent years hasn’t disrupted his performance and expressed confidence in the current group.
“So it’s not really a pick-and-choose type scenario, but I don’t think it’s going to be a hard transition. He’s been on the radio with me before, and I think we’ve got a great group.”
—Josef Newgarden, Team Penske INDYCAR driver.
An Atmosphere of Determination and Renewal
Newgarden spoke candidly about overcoming the adversity of the previous season and how the atmosphere within the Penske camp has shifted. He now leads the INDYCAR points standings, turning recent setbacks into fuel for the team’s resurgence.
Scott McLaughlin has stepped up as a vocal leader, rejuvenated by changes and the addition of Malukas. Expressing his appreciation for working directly with Tim Cindric, McLaughlin highlighted their synergy and mutual respect during preseason preparations.
“And I think the three of us — me, Josef and David — have worked really well over the test days, working pretty seamlessly.”
—Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske INDYCAR driver.
David Malukas, stepping into the spotlight as the new INDYCAR polesitter, brought youthful energy that complemented the team’s veteran experience. Newgarden, meanwhile, acknowledged the differences age brings, saying,
“It’s different than what it was, but I have a little bit of exuberance left. … I definitely wish I had more. I wish I was 20 again.”
—Josef Newgarden, Team Penske INDYCAR driver.
Penske’s NASCAR Leaders and the Drive to Win
The NASCAR division features three-time champion Joey Logano, 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney, and Cup race winner Austin Cindric. Each driver credited Roger Penske’s relentless pursuit of excellence for fueling their competitive spirit. After qualifying on pole at Phoenix, Logano described Penske as:
“[He’s] 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,”
—Joey Logano, Team Penske NASCAR driver. He added,
“You can imagine as a competitor, no matter what your position is on a team, you want to be with the best. I say this all the time: You can’t soar like an eagle when you’re working with turkeys. And he’s an eagle.”
—Joey Logano, Team Penske NASCAR driver.
Despite winning the pole, Logano’s race ended prematurely after a pair of crashes. Austin Cindric also faced similar misfortune. In the end, it was Ryan Blaney who secured the pivotal victory that completed Team Penske’s Phoenix sweep.
Executing Under Pressure and Adversity
Blaney, acknowledging the challenge of closing out the weekend successfully for both series, remarked at his news conference:
“You don’t want to mess it up,”
—Ryan Blaney, Team Penske NASCAR driver. Regarding the final push, he added:
“You’ve got to finish it out, right?”
—Ryan Blaney, Team Penske NASCAR driver.
The INDYCAR race had been dominated by Christian Rasmussen until a crash with Will Power changed the dynamic. In the Cup event, Christopher Bell‘s strong performance forced Blaney and his team to strategize creatively—using a two-tire stop to gain track position and ultimately seal the win. For Team Penske, capitalizing on chance and executing perfectly at critical moments have always been hallmarks of a championship program.
Speaking on the motivation provided by Newgarden’s Saturday win, Blaney noted:
“Josef put the pressure on us,”
—Ryan Blaney, Team Penske NASCAR driver.
“I was happy to do it today. It’s always special to win for Roger. On a weekend like this, where he put a lot into having these two series together and it going the way it did up until today — for us to finish it out today was definitely neat.”
—Ryan Blaney, Team Penske NASCAR driver.
Racing Technology: High Horsepower Sparks Excitement
This year’s Phoenix event marked a technical shift, with Cup Series engines producing 750 horsepower—up from 670 horsepower on similar tracks in past seasons. The change drew mostly positive responses from drivers, with no one voicing dislike, though opinions varied on how significant the difference was.
Veteran Denny Hamlin was enthusiastic about the higher horsepower’s effect, sharing:
“And the horsepower definitely helped with that, and it certainly also helped with wearing the tires a little bit more. … This is a positive direction.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver.
Joey Logano noticed the wider racing lines enabled by the boost.
“I’ve never seen the track so wide,”
—Joey Logano, Team Penske NASCAR driver. This development is expected to be used at all ovals under 1.5 miles, likely contributing to more dynamic racing and strategic variety.
INDYCAR Qualifying Shake-Up and Notable News
Beyond Team Penske’s triumph, the racing weekend featured several additional headlines. The INDYCAR series will experiment with a new qualifying format at Arlington, moving away from group sessions for the Fast Six round and introducing single-car, single-lap runs to better showcase individual driver performance.
Internet personality Cleetus McFarland, with 4.6 million YouTube subscribers, will get behind the wheel for Richard Childress Racing in select O’Reilly Series races during 2026 and 2027, debuting next month at Darlington.
Penske’s Winning Culture and What Comes Next
From the desert drama at Phoenix to major team shifts, Team Penske has set the tone with its sweep—and with renewed vigor, the organization is poised for a season that could erase last year’s setbacks. Underlining the intensity within the team, new INDYCAR recruit David Malukas captured the unique focus needed for victory:
“Dude. For my brain-rotted TikTok brain, I was so focused. I didn’t have a second to think about anything else.”
—David Malukas, Team Penske INDYCAR driver.
As the season progresses, Penske’s competitors are certain to be watching closely. Consistency, adaptability, and unity across both series suggest that Team Penske’s dreams of a bigger championship may quickly become reality.
