Joey Logano’s path back into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs took a strange turn when Alex Bowman’s car failed the post-race weight check, suddenly giving Team Penske a leg up. But while NASCAR fans are buzzing about the unexpected shake-up, Roger Penske’s other racing endeavor, IndyCar, is under scrutiny as well. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles, embroiled in a controversy involving Mexican driver Pato O’Ward, is holding his ground despite the backlash.
Miles has become a polarizing figure among fans, and not just because of his latest move. From downplaying the popularity of the three-time IndyCar winner, Miles’ continued presence at the helm has raised questions and stirred frustrations, making it clear that fans are ready for a change at IndyCar’s top levels.
Roger Penske’s crony is not giving up
Kyle Larson’s Indy 500 plans aren’t the only thing stirring up IndyCar headlines this year. Roger Penske’s series is facing fresh speculation about leadership changes after some questionable calls. From blocking Honda’s attempted exit to scrapping a video game project before it even started, the series has had its share of controversy. The latest? CEO Mark Miles dismissed Pato O’Ward as “not famous enough” to spearhead a possible race in Mexico, sparking backlash from fans who see O’Ward as a key IndyCar figure.
Despite widespread ripples of backlash against these decisions, the CEO dropped an astonishingly nonchalant decision lately. Miles has been in the role since 2012 and plans to serve Roger Penske‘s enterprise indefinitely. He declared that he is not stepping down: “I love it and am really excited about what the short-term future will bring — some of the things we’ve already talked about and more. Listen, as long as I can keep up with my boss [Penske] — he’s amazing — so I like this and am excited about our growth and our growth prospects and expect to be here to see a lot of that through.”
However, in an attempt to ameliorate his reputation, Mark Miles has embarked on a project. Last week, Roger Penske’s series signed a deal with the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys to race around the Grand Prix of Arlington, which will start in 2026. Miles also hinted that another “blockbuster” event is in the works, and Pato O’Ward‘s dream to race in Mexico is also underway. He laid forth his objectives: “In developing our calendar, we want to be in vibrant cities and to do that in innovative ways and to do it with great partners – high level partners.”
.@IndyCar CEO Mark Miles says he’s still enjoying his role and plans to continue in it, making clear that he’s not planning to step down at a time when some have wondered if change could come to the series’ leadership. https://t.co/p6xvDACV7W
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 16, 2024
Despite these efforts, IndyCar fans are appalled by Miles’ decision to stick around.
Racing fans are disappointed in Miles’ presence
When Roger Penske’s right-hand man insulted Pato O’Ward’s authority, the driver answered in kind. He led a race-high 133 laps to win the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s race. He even delivered a sarcastic joke at Miles with the remark, “Pato who?”
This enthralled fans, who were already armed against Miles’ hurtful allegations. So the CEO’s present decision to keep staying disappointed fans, a fan wrote, “Well that sucks.”
Another fan added that Miles may have been mistaken about his disrepute, which is larger than it seems. “Nobody was asking him to step down-they were asking him to be fired.” Somebody else chimed in: “he needs to go 🤦♂️”
Roger Penske’s enterprise made other questionable decisions, like canceling the video game deal. Then last year, there was a delayed implementation of the Hybrid Assist Unit due to a lack of adequate production parts. Such lapses on the part of the executive board infuriated fans. One fan commented, “So no hope in any improvements with IndyCar is what you’re saying. Status quo.”
Somebody else implicated Roger Penske in all of this, spreading the blame across the IndyCar leadership. The comment read, “what a shame. such a shitty boys club mentality amongst penske, miles, and the team owners.”
Evidently, Roger Penske’s colleague is not at the peak of fans’ interest. Unless Mark Miles does something to genuinely improve the sport, this stance may not change soon.
