

The White House South Portico bathed in April sunlight, the air thick with the kind of pride that only comes from horsepower and hard-won victories. It’s April 9, 2025, and President Donald Trump stands there, larger than life, hosting a celebration that feels like a family reunion for racing’s elite. NASCAR champions Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney were at his side, along with the winning lineup from the 2025 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. Nick Tandy, Felipe Nasr, and Laurens Vanthoor were present along with their No. 7 Penske Porsche 963 GTP. Roger Penske, the man who’s built an empire on wheels, stands tall nearby, his legacy practically humming in the background.
“This is just a celebration of racing,” President Trump said at the ceremony. “It’s a celebration of Roger and his great success and his life and these incredible champions who really do what very few people could do.” This isn’t some fleeting fling with motorsports for Trump. He’s been all in for years, and the proof’s in the tire tracks. Rewind to 2020, when Trump rolled into the Daytona 500 as Grand Marshal, waving the green flag with a gusto that got the crowd roaring. Fast forward to this year, and he was back, striding the track as president again, soaking in the cheers. Now, as Trump stands with Penske’s finest athletes, he marveled at the prospect of attending the Penske-owned series next!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Donald Trump has given his nod to Roger Penske for an Indy visit
Donald Trump’s bond with Roger Penske runs deeper. Back on October 24, 2019, he awarded Penske the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the White House’s East Room. “What an amazing honor for him,” Logano had said earlier that year at Sonoma. “You think about what Roger has been able to accomplish as an American and as a business owner and motorsports tycoon. The guy is amazing with what he has done. Indy 500 wins, championships, all racing different types of series across the world. To me, that is incredible.” That 2019 honor—Penske’s 18 (now 20) Indy 500 wins and 2 (now five) NASCAR titles on display—set the stage for this 2025 love-in.
President Trump went on to say: “These are great champions and it’s a great sport. … We love champions and these are the greatest champions in the world. These are the greatest champions in racing, and it’s an honor to have you all.” Now, here’s where the pulse quickens: Could Trump trade Daytona’s wild banks for the hallowed bricks of Indianapolis? At the ceremony, he lets it slip, casual but loaded. “What you’ve done in Indianapolis also with the track and everything is really incredible,” Trump told Roger Penske. “People tell me it’s amazing, I’ll have to get there, maybe this year with you.” It’s not hard to imagine Trump in the stands, Air Force One circling overhead. Roger Penske even welcomed the POTUS’ arrival at Indianapolis, replying to Trump’s intentions to attend by saying, “An open invitation.”
Trump also didn’t shy away from praising the two-time Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden, who was in attendance. Trump said, “Two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. Consecutively, right?” Trump said while addressing Newgarden. The POTUS then quipped, “What the hell are you doing? What are you eating?” Trump was marveling at the achievements of the surrounding athletes, and going by his reaction, it seems like an Indy 500 appearance is truly around the corner. As Donald Trump would take center stage if he does make it to the race, he would be in the presence of an attempt at racing history.
Roger Penske told President Donald Trump he has an open invite to @IMS and the #Indy500.
Trump said “I’ll have to get there, maybe this year.”
Video is from Penske’s visit to the White House today with Indy 500 champ Josef Newgarden. @FOX59 @CBS4Indy pic.twitter.com/gom9KsgheW
— Eric Graves (@ReporterEric) April 9, 2025
Kyle Larson, the NASCAR daredevil and 2021 Cup Series champion, is set to tackle “The Double” on May 25, 2025—racing the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in one insane, adrenaline-soaked day. NASCAR.com reported that Larson unveiled his Indy 500 ride, a sleek machine built for history. Now, President Trump at Indy would seem like his own personal double attempt. It’s two men chasing massive moments—Larson on the track, burning rubber for a shot at legend status, and Trump in the crowd, amplifying the stakes with every wave. It’s uncanny: both bold, both relentless, both drawing every eye. If Trump shows, it’s not just a race; it’s a spectacle.
What’s your perspective on:
Trump at the Indy 500—Would his presence elevate the race or overshadow the drivers?
Have an interesting take?
May 25 could see 300,000 fans, Trump in the mix, and Larson gunning for glory. Daytona lit the fuse. Indy might blow it wide open. And while Trump was full of praise for Penske’s legacy, the latter’s next endeavor is set to shake up the IndyCar scene.
Trending
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Roger Penske’s bringing revolution to IndyCar with 2027 design upgrade
IndyCar’s charging toward 2027 with a brand-new chassis, and Penske Entertainment’s keeping it hush-hush. No pics of the wind tunnel model yet, but testing’s started, and that’s a huge deal. It’s like the first lap of a race one’s been dying to see. This isn’t just a car; it’s the future replacing the old DW12 that’s been around since 2012. That chassis got the Aeroscreen in 2020, but it’s time for something fresh. The wind tunnel’s humming now, shaping a machine that’s safer, faster, and greener.
Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment, highlighted the significance of their team’s hands-on approach: “We’re hard at work with Honda, Chevy, Ilmor, and Dallara to think about what’s possible. I think it’ll be exciting for our fan base, coming with relevant technology and styling enhancements we think can score a lot of points with fans.”
Think about it—crash protection that’s next-level, slick aerodynamics for more overtaking, and maybe even eco-friendly materials. Plus, it’s built for hybrid power, blending old-school roar with new-school tech. They’ve got till 2027 to nail it, just like back in 2010 when the DW12’s core was set by December and the aero bits locked in two months later.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
No renderings have been revealed yet, but when they drop, it’ll be worth the wait. This car’s carrying a decade of lessons, from the DW12’s grit to today’s wild ideas. It’s not just about speed; it’s about keeping drivers safe and races tight.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Trump at the Indy 500—Would his presence elevate the race or overshadow the drivers?