via Getty
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Team owner Roger Penske celebrates Josef Newgarden #2 of United States and Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet winning the NTT IndyCar Series championship following the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 22, 2019 in Monterey, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
via Getty
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Team owner Roger Penske celebrates Josef Newgarden #2 of United States and Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet winning the NTT IndyCar Series championship following the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 22, 2019 in Monterey, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
While it would’ve been pretty tough to come across anyone who wouldn’t consider Roger Penske a motorsport icon considering his success and contributions in and beyond NASCAR and INDYCAR, to find someone who doubts that now is next to impossible.
Especially after he was recognized in the same bracket as Jean Todt of Ferrari.
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Recently, Mr. Penske was awarded Autosport’s Gold Medal for 2022, an honor previously won by the former Ferrari Team Principal who solidified his own legend with his success alongside the great Michael Schumacher.
Humbled by the award he received in the UK, the NASCAR owner reflected on his journey that more or less came full circle.
“Coming back to the UK is where it all started, 60 years ago at Brands Hatch, we had some success and then bought a store in Poole in Dorset. I think the UK helped start our racing business, and so there is always a connection between the two when the racing and the business grew,” Penske said.
“Winning both IndyCar and NASCAR this year was incredible, we had a great year.”
The 2022 Autosport Gold Medal recipient is Roger Penske 🏅⁰⁰The legendary owner has overseen an incredible
1️⃣8️⃣ Indy 500 victories
3️⃣ Daytona 500 victories
6️⃣ NASCAR Series championships
5️⃣ IndyCar Series championships
⁰#AutosportAwards #Autosport pic.twitter.com/RRmP1RXtMH— Autosport (@autosport) December 4, 2022
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NASCAR-INDYCAR owner Roger Penske’s contributions to motorsport are unparalleled
Such was the occasion, and such was the legend of the recipient Roger Penske, that it was only natural a motorsport legend of similar pedigree would bestow the honor on him.
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Sir Jackie Stewart, while paying tribute to Penske, emphasized that his contributions to motorsport in the American landscape are simply unparalleled.
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 06: Roger Penske team owner of DJR Team Penske celebrates on the podium during race 7 for the Perth SuperSprint, which is part of the Supercars Championship at Barbagallo Raceway on May 6, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
“I cannot think of anyone in the world of motorsport that has done so much, that that man has,” Stewart said. “He changed the sport in the United States of America. He’s got information that I don’t believe anyone else in this room has.”
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“What he’s done for motorsport, of course, the Americans think he’s wonderful but for us, in Europe, he’s the perfect example of what we should be doing in the future.”
