Penske revels in Logano's victory at Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Roger Penske has accomplished more in motor sports than perhaps he can remember.
There are the 15 Indianapolis 500 victories. There are the countless IndyCar Series titles, including the 2014 championship won by Will Power.
When most everyone said it could not be done, Penske crossed over from open-wheel to stock-car racing with only a few struggles. Ryan Newman delivered his first Daytona 500 win in 2008.
Yet, in the 43 years since Mark Donohue won Team Penske's first Indianapolis 500, Penske still savors victory. On Monday, with the vision of Joey Logano taking the checkered flag in the 57th Daytona 500 on Sunday, Penske embraced the Harley J. Earl Trophy as if it was his first major victory.
Penske embraced Logano and crew chief Todd Gordon, and repeatedly praised them for their unwavering commitment to stick with a game plan they executed almost flawlessly over the final 20 laps of a thrilling 203-lap race that finished under caution amid a last-lap crash.
“We understand there are several ways you can race these races,” Gordon said. “The more you are up there, the more you get that confidence from cars around you that the 22 has been in the top five all day. When there is a decision of the line breaking three-wide, people have more confidence to go with you.
“There were times yesterday that I had to make some different calls than what the car or Joey was asking for. It was what the race was asking for, though. Identifying those things was important.”
Like Penske, Logano appeared like he hadn't stopped smiling since he turned his car into Victory Lane. It helped, too, that he picked up check worth more than $1.5 million.
At some point, Logano said, he has to come down to earth. Besides, another grueling race awaits at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday.
“I shut off the TV, but my mind just kept thinking about the whole race and how it all played out and I just kept reliving the moment over and over again,” said Logano, who at 24 became the second-youngest driver to win the Great American Race. “I am really tired right now because I didn't sleep much. It is amazing.
“This is something that you don't take for granted. It is something that is very special. I know that and I am excited about the adventure that lies ahead of me and what is going to happen coming up here in the next few days.”
While Logano prepares to move on to Atlanta, Penske is taking time to reflect on one of his sweetest victories.
“The one thing Joey said to me was he said, ‘I am going to race all day.' To me, in my mind, that is when I knew we had a chance,” Penske said. “He was not going to sit in the back. He was going to race all day, and I think that is what made the difference.”
Penske took a chance on Logano when Joe Gibbs Racing let him go, in part, because he seemingly had underachieved. Penske has helped resurrect the careers of other drivers — including AJ Allmendinger and Kurt Busch, who NASCAR suspended last Saturday for conduct detrimental to the sport.
In Logano's case, Gibbs figured he wasn't the right fit in the No. 20 Toyota. So he hired Matt Kenseth to replace him in 2013.
Now Logano and Keselowski form the best 1-2 tandem in the Cup series. In 2014, they combined to win 11 races and advanced to the Chase.
Penske has created a winning environment by fostering a sense of team. He brought his IndyCar crew to Concord, N.C., to help build a NASCAR program to equal one of the most dominant open-wheel teams.
“If you go to our shop, all the key guys, their offices are right beside each other so they have to say hello,” Penske said. “We have tried to be one team, and that is Team Penske. That has made the difference.
“The continuity of the people is probably the best. To have Brad Keselowski, who has been a great leader, and he and Joey have become good friends. They respect each other on the race track.”
Ralph N. Paulk is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib.
