If you are a Penske Racing fan and they are legion, after last Sunday’s Road American Race at Elkhart Lake you have to be wondering what evil spirits the team has offended in order to be cursed with the kind of luck that they have been experiencing this season. We are now ten races into the 2021 season and as yet a Team Penske car has not been able to claim a win. This is simply unheard of in half a century of competition. They have come close to a win, but the rug has been pulled out from under them.
At the REV Group Grand Prix last Sunday. It was all Josef Newgarden. He won the pole and led the most laps. But with 3 laps to go, coming off of a yellow flag when the field got the green and Newgarden tried to accelerate, his Chevy just slowed down to a dead stop and Newgarden had to watch the entire field fly by him. Alex Palou who had led just 2 laps took the lead and led that final checkered flag lap to take his second win of the season and regain the point lead for the IndyCar Championship. A devastated Josef Newgarden found out his gearbox had broken.
One cannot help but believe that the Captain’s absence from the day-to-day operations have much to do with the team’s lack of success. Roger Penske just wouldn’t permit a gearbox to break almost in sight of the checkered flag and the win. However, the Captain is managing the whole IndyCar series and administering the day-to-day operations of the world’s greatest race track.
So this year may be a washout for Penske Racing but I don’t think that this situation will last long. Roger Penske will do whatever it takes to make Penske Racing a winner. Penske Racing will be back in 2022, never doubt it.
The next race will be at Mid Ohio on July 4.
Carl Nassib
A deep bow of honor and respect to Mr. Carl Nassib for being the NFL player to come out as a gay man. The NFL has been supportive of his announcement and many of his fellow players have likewise given support to Mr. Nassib. All the best to this courageous young man.
snicewanger@gmail.com