107th Indianapolis 500 Preview with Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske, Indy 500 Pole Winner Alex Palou, 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and many others

Speakers: Bruce Martin, Roger Penske, Alex Palou, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, & Marco Andretti

[Music Playing]

Roger Penske:

This is Roger Penske and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy, sponsored by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin:

IndyCar fans, it's time to start your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcasts. I'm your host Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar series. Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans an insider's view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar series, in a fast-paced podcast featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport.

I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR, working for such media brands as nbcsports.com, si.com, ESPN Sports Ticker, Sports Illustrated, Auto Week and Speed Sport.

So, let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy.

Welcome to this week's edition on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. We are proud and honored to bring Penske Truck Rental to the show as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy.

We will continue to cover the entire NTT Indy Car Series community, and our new partners at Penske Truck Rental will help us tell those stories.

Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Month of May. It's the most anticipated week of the year for fans of the NTT IndyCar series. It's the week of the 107th Indianapolis 500, one of the greatest sporting events on earth, and the largest single day sporting event on the planet.

More than 300,000 spectators will gather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to experience the world's largest theater of human drama. It's 32 men and one woman who will take the green flag, hoping to be the one who gets to celebrate in Victory Lane with the bottle of milk and the BorgWarner Trophy in the winner's reef at the end of 500 miles.

To experience the Indianapolis 500 in person can be a life-changing experience. On this special episode of Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental, we will take a deep dive into what the Indianapolis 500 means to the competitors, those who will risk it all for eternal glory.

On this extended edition of Pit Pass presented by Penske Truck Rental, we start off with the driver who will lead the field of the green flag. The pole winner of the 107th Indianapolis 500 Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Palou won the pole on Sunday with the fastest speed for a pole winner in Indianapolis 500 history. Palou’s four lap average around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 234.217 miles per hour in the number 10 American Legion Honda.

The previous record was 234.046 miles an hour set in 2022 by Scott Dixon.

Arie Luyendyk set the all-time four lap qualifying average speed record of 236.986 miles per hour in 1996, but his run came on the second day of qualifications and wasn't eligible for the pole.

We will have an in-depth interview with 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, who is back in the race for the first time since 2021. Hunter-Reay starts 18th, the outside of row six in the number 23 Chevrolet for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental also catches up with Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport, who starts 21st, the outside of row seven.

His teammate Kyle Kirkwood stops by and will start 15th, the outside of row five for Andretti Autosport.

Another Andretti auto sport driver gives his thoughts on returning to the Indianapolis 500. It's Marco Andretti, who will make his 18th start in the world's greatest race on Sunday. He starts on the outside of row eight.

But first we have the biggest legend of them all as our first guest. It's Roger Penske, the winningest car owner in Indianapolis 500 history with 18 wins.

Since November 4th, 2019, Penske is the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar. We are proud and honored to have this exclusive extended interview with Roger Penske as we preview the 107th Indianapolis 500 on Pit pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Penske tells me how the Indianapolis 500 changed his life when he first arrived as a young boy with his father Jay in 1951.

It's a real honor and a real privilege to bring in on our next guest on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. It's the man himself, Roger Penske.

Roger, it's been said that the Indianapolis 500 is a life-changing experience. How did the Indianapolis 500 change Roger Penske's life?

Roger Penske:

Well, I think Bruce, when you think about going back to 1951 when I came to the Speedway with my dad, when I was a young guy and had the chance to see the cars and be here at the race and see the spectacle, I guess I was bitten at that point.

And I've been here every year since except when we had the IRL and IndyCar cart debacle at that point. But it's certainly helped me build a brand within my company. And obviously having a chance to race here and be successful has been amazing for me and my family and our company.

Bruce Martin:

You always told an interesting story about that first Indianapolis 500 for you in 1951. If you could tell it to our listeners and involved coming down here with your father Jay for a business trip, basically, then he brought you with him.

Roger Penske:

Well, my dad got a couple of tickets. I guess someone had sponsored one of the lap prizes and gave him a couple tickets. And we got down here and we were supposed to go to someone's house for lunch, and we got there late, but there was a show car there, if you can believe it.

And I remember getting a chance to sit in that car before we went out to the track. And then our seats were coming off of turn four, so they weren't the best in the house. I guess, the seats I have today are better than ever up in the pagoda.

Bruce Martin:

The fact that you were a young boy and you saw this show car, did it just seem like something from science fiction in many ways? I know back then they were front engine Roadsters, but what did you think when you saw an IndyCar up close the day of the Indy 500?

Roger Penske:

Well, it was pretty special to see them in those days, obviously. These people brought these cars in on trailers. They worked on them in the garage, put them together in the garage back in the early days, as I remember.

But, for me, as a young boy who loved cars, it was a special time with my dad, obviously had to bond with him at the race. And from that point on, we never stopped coming here.

Bruce Martin:

When did you become a car guy? Did it start as a kid?

Roger Penske:

Well, I always liked cars and worked on them. And I remember in high school I worked at a Jaguar dealership, and I used to do the cleanup on them just before I was 16, so I could drive them around the parking lot. So, I guess I was involved with cars at an early age.

Bruce Martin:

Couple of years ago I found an old story that was written about you in Sports Illustrated all the way back in 1963 when you were still a driver. And it really focused a lot on what you were like, and even back then, you had an eye for detail. They would talk about how before your first date with a girl, you would spend hours washing the car and waxing it, making sure the car looked perfect.

And you can see that even today throughout your entire organization at Penske Corporation, that everything is clean, sparkling and orderly. Are those the lessons you learned all the way back then?

Roger Penske:

Well, I guess you have to think about we're sitting here in Indiana today. I went to Culver Military Academy when I was 12-years-old for the summer camp. And I learned to shine my shoes, make my bed and walk in line. And I guess maybe that was the point of time, they said, “Look, things need to be detailed to be the right and the way you want to live.” And I guess to me I guess the details are the things that either make or break you today.

Bruce Martin:

As far as your career as a race driver, you were one of the best sports car drivers of your time. How would you describe your racing style back then to a contemporary driver?

Roger Penske:

Well, back in those days, of course, we didn't have the equipment. We didn't have the people that you have today engineering and obviously the equipment today is more sophisticated.

But quite honestly, we all worked on the car. I remember driving the car to the track with a two-wheel trailer and a station wagon many times. And it was different.

But the competition was still there. And you think about the days back we were running the Trans-Am with Donny, we had Parnelli Jones, and we had Dan Gurney and we had the best guys in the business.

And it's just changed, different names and different faces today. And the equipment certainly is a lot more sophisticated, but the competition's still the same. And remember coming here to Indy and watching Foyt just blow everybody off and he'd kind of wait till about 5:30 in the evening on each day, and he'd come out here and blow everybody off. That was always a idol of mine to see if I could do that someday.

Bruce Martin:

Now, as a spectator, I remember seeing pictures of you when you would be here on race day, even well before you brought Penske Racing (was known back then), to the track. How many of those guys like Eddie Sachs and other drivers that you got to know back then really had an influence on you?

Roger Penske:

Well, of course you talk about Eddie Sachs, he was from Hellertown down from where I went to Lehigh, knew Eddie, of course. I raced against many of those people, Paul Goldsmith, and Roger Warren and many of those in stock car racing at one point in IRP and also in Riverside, California.

But the Vukoviches, watching them — who ran Midgets over in Ohio at Sportsman's Park. So, I was just a fan, a big fan, and watched them for many years.

And Mike Klapak was a great stock car racer in Ohio, and I got to meet him. He ran the mac … car, so watching them from the stands. And then as we got into racing, I had a chance to connect with many of those early guys.

They were terrific racers and to meet the opportunity here. Remember back at the time when Jim McGee and Broner called me to do my test here at Indy, but I couldn't do it because of my work. I couldn't get off. And Andretti took his test in that car, and I guess it worked out for both of us.

Bruce Martin:

How did you meet Mark Donohue? Because you told me about five years ago that he was really the cornerstone of Penske Racing.

Roger Penske:

Well, I really met him up at Lime Rock Park, Jay Signore, who was at that point, a friend of mine, we were up there racing and he said, “Take a look at this guy, Mark Donohue driving this Elva Courier.”

So, I got to see Mark and watch him drive and got to meet him and talked to him about coming with us as part of our team. And I guess it was one person recommending him to me. We got together and we built Team Penske at that point, and never turned around.

Bruce Martin:

But it was 1969 when Penske Racing arrived in Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And you always tell the story about how a lot of the other teams looked at you like, who are these guys? Because they do things different than we've been doing with the grease rags in our pocket. And the old wooden garages, you had a different approach.

Roger Penske:

They called us the College Boys with the crew haircuts and the polished wheels, I guess. But look, it was an image that we had. We had a sponsor in Sunoco, and we wanted to change it. And our goal was to win the race and first three years and ‘69, ‘70, ’71 almost in ‘71 when we were fast and had a problem with the gearbox. But we were on our first 500 at Pocono that year, with Donohue, and came back in ‘72 and ran strong, and Donohue won our first race, which was a tremendous feat for our team.

Bruce Martin:

Did you expect to win the Indianapolis 500 that quickly?

Roger Penske:

What we had is a goal. I mean, I think in life you set goals for yourself, individually, your family and your business, and that was one that we said oh, that was our goal to win this race. We said three years, it took us four.

Bruce Martin:

Of course, at that time you were driving using McLaren IndyCar. Now McLaren is back in the IndyCar series with Arrow McLaren racing. They seem, in a lot of ways to be another team that has come in and is elevating the level of the game here in IndyCar.

Roger Penske:

Well, McLaren comes from a background of Formula One, where they have tremendous amount of capability funding. And I think the team that they have, and certainly the one they have here at Indy with the drivers, they've put together Zak Brown's a smart guy, and has put this all together and we'll see come race day.

Obviously when you look at what they've done and all the teams, I mean, if Michael Andretti — look at Ganassi, his record here, all of us have had a chance to win in different disciplines. But coming here and winning is a big job today. And when you look at the qualification in 2023, at least early on before we go to the Fast 12, you look at, it's tens of a mile an hour make a difference.

And that's the competition. The cars are safe, the cars are fast, and I guess the young crew of drivers we have, have never been better.

Bruce Martin:

At what point in your business career did you decide to branch out and also become an owner of Speedways, Michigan International Speedway was a very important track that you owned as well as Nazareth Speedway. What was it about having that opportunity was something that enticed you?

Roger Penske:

Well, I guess we were always interested in racing and involved in it, and we lived in Michigan and Michigan Speedway was in trouble, and we had the opportunity to bid on that track way early on, Pat Patrick was the guy on the other side.

And we finally ended up winning it in I guess an auction. And that was really our start. I mean, we went out there, we took tickets, we cut grass, we did everything. And that was the tremendous opportunity for us.

Initially, we had American Motors as our partner because we would have them do their emission certification there. And we didn't really know what was going to bring the racing as far as the revenue and obviously to cover some of our costs. But the first race was a NASCAR race, and I remember we made $150,000.

I went back to American Motors, I said, look, “I'll buy your half out. You just come here and rent it from us.” And that became a partnership we had for a long, long time. That was before they had Dyna, they could do their emission certification.

So, we had 340 days a year, we leased a track to American Motors, and we had 25 days of racing. And that was really the start of our speedway business. As we went on to build California, we took over in Nazareth, we're partners down in Homestead. We had the Rockingham Track. So, racing has been really in our blood for a long time.

Bruce Martin:

You also were among the leaders in the business to business concept of doing business because you could take sponsorship to not only your race team, but also to your races at the speedways, and to be able to offer all of these different sponsors that nobody else in IndyCar, which was run by USAC at that time, could really do. How did you come up with that concept and how did that give you an advantage?

Roger Penske:

Well, I think it's like everything else in business, you try to lever the scale you have. And I think the fact that we had the relationships at the track, we could use those tracks for — remember we had a golf tournament up in Jackson, Michigan, at the Jackson Country Club, and we had all the pros come out for a driving day out at the Speedway.

Things like that were very powerful for us, and our sponsors loved that. And I think that gave us a chance to give something excellent. Just putting your name on the side of the car.

Bruce Martin:

How did you meet Rick Mears and what was it about him that you realized, this is a guy that I want representing Team Penske and a guy that's really been a very valuable part of the team all the way to today where he's still a key part of the team?

Roger Penske:

Well, I guess it was way back at the Ontario Motor Speedway, and I was standing in line to get my credentials and Franky DelRoy, who was ultimately died in that plane crash of the USAC guys said, “Hey, take a look at this kid that just got his credentials, somebody you should watch.”

So, I watched Mears, quite honestly, there at Ontario. Then we came to the Speedway. I remember he and his dad pushing the car up to … they had a pink eagle and they pushing the car up to get fuel in it, up towards turn four back and forth.

Then I went on a motorcycle ride that Wally Dallenbach put together. And had a chance to meet Rick and said, “Hey, why don't we get together?” And we had a situation where Mario was running for the Formula One championship, and we were going to have to do something to take his spot, because obviously that was priority one for him.

And I remember I came to Mears, I called, I said, “Let's get together at Michigan.” He was knocking on the door at six in the morning saying, “Hey, I'd love to talk to you.”

So, we put something together back then, and we didn't have a full-time ride at that point, but he jumped in and he never turned back. And fourth time winner of the Indianapolis 500, he's still a friend, a partner, and a guy that has tremendous credibility here at the Speedway.

Bruce Martin:

And that also created a really glorious era for the team, because Rick's victory in ‘79 was your second Indianapolis 500 victory. But after that, you have Bobby Unser winning in ‘81. It really started a succession of Penske Racing dominance in the series. And in a lot of ways, when you look back at the beginning of that era, what goes through your mind?

Roger Penske:

Well, I look at Mears being a partner, a teammate, setting a standard. Bringing in Bobby was obviously a veteran, was very important on the team. And you look at it we then started to do our own cars in ‘79 with Jeff Frisz.

And later on, in the 80s with Nigel Bennett, designing our cars with Billy over in the UK. And that gave us a real advantage for a long time. And then of course, we went to March back and forth at different vehicles, and now we're all of us sitting here with Dallaras.

But it was just a series of successes, a series of failures, obviously. But overall, we pulled this team together. And I think the credibility we have as a team is the fact that we have people with us for a long, long time, which makes a big difference.

And today we operate in our race shop down in Mooresville with almost 450 people. And that covers our sports car program, our NASCAR programs, and also Indy.

Bruce Martin:

So, if you fast forward in your career in 2019, Simon Pagenaud gave you Indianapolis 500 victory 18, you're the all-time winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history. And a lot of people have always said up to that point that Roger Penske owned the Speedway.

Well, on November 4th of 2019, you became the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So, that has increased your involvement in this great event to the ultimate level. And if you could just describe what you've been able to do and how monumental of a day that was, not only for you, but for the Penske Corporation.

Roger Penske:

Well, I think over the years, because we'd been in the Speedway business, people said, “Geez, would you ever want to be interested in the Speedway?” I said, “Well, it's not for sale.”

And we went ahead and partnered with the NASCAR team, Bill France and Jim and the team for many years as partners. And so, in fact, sold our tracks to him. We were out of the track business and we're in on our race teams and trying to win races. But it was ironic in October, I think of ‘19, Tony George came up to me at Laguna and said, “Hey, I'd like to talk to you about the future.”

I really didn't know what that was, but we won the race that day and we were coming to Indy for a little banquet for Newgarden who'd won his championship with us. And I sat down with he and Mark Miles, and he told me that the family and the trustees had made a decision that they were going to sell the speedway, would we have any interest?

And I said, “Well, definitely.” I said, “I didn't know it was for sale, but I certainly would like a chance to talk to you about it.” And quite honestly, I think three days later Mark Miles and one of his key executives came to Detroit and really started the discussion and I think we said, look, let's keep this, not an auction, but let's try to negotiate a deal.

And I think within 30 days we had a letter of intent. And we closed the deal in January, obviously not knowing that COVID was coming in. Ironically, we did our business plan for our bankers showing almost 300,000 people here for race day.

Well, guess what we didn't have a race. And that was a tough start. But I can tell you that our experience running the tracks, I guess we could say we owned the inside for a number of years. We got tremendous competition always.

But the outside was something that we never paid much attention to over the years. Not that I saw it grow and the things they did for the six in 2016 for the hundredth, but it was a real opportunity to take this place to the next level because it had the bones, it had some very, very good people. And what we were able to do is add our shoulder and our emphasis and our capital to take it to the next level.

And I'm so proud to be able to drive around here. I drove around this morning and just looked at everything and putting up the stage for the snake pit for a week from now. It's amazing. And we're trying to make it better.

We call it guest experience. We want people to come here with their kids, have a good time. It's a reasonable priced event when you think about other sporting events around the world from a motorsports perspective.

But look, it's a business and we want to run it like a business. And obviously without the Indianapolis 500, we wouldn't have IndyCar, without an IndyCar wouldn't have the 500. And I think that was really, when you go back Tony Hulman, that was his mission and really his formula and we're trying to carry that on today.

Bruce Martin:

But when you look back at the COVID year 2020, and also the following year where you could only have 60% of the crowd, I believe it was, it was 137,000 people. How tough was it from a business standpoint to keep the facility what it was in the series, what it was? Because you had to make some pretty tough business decisions in order to even have a season in 2020?

Roger Penske:

Well, look as a business person we came here understanding the investment. And certainly, when you think about the iconic nature of this track running the 107th running of the event in 2023, there was history, there was an iconic event along with what I call the family event.

People that want those tickets want to be able to be here. We had the opportunity to take it to the next level, but also understood there's risk. And the risk was that year was COVID, which we didn't know was right around the corner.

But we managed through that, and I think we tried to use the track as a benefit. And I remember we did thousands of tests and then we vaccinated, I think over a hundred thousand using our garages. We had the town of Speedways high school graduation where people came in their car with their mom and dad stopped at the yard of bricks, and they picked up their diploma.

And then Breann Leath was a African American police officer, was shot and killed in Indianapolis. And we had the funeral out here. In fact, it was a brilliant, one of the most amazing events ever to see police cars around the two-and-a-half-mile track, the governor, the mayor and everyone else here. And to have her make her last victory lap around the Speedway was something special during COVID.

So, we try to give back, we try to make the Speedway something that makes a difference in the area and the region. It brings in probably over 300 million of economic benefit each year. So, we're a partner with the state, the city, and certainly the town of Speedway.

And I think as we look forward, we just want to continue to build it and make it a place where people want to come and want to be able to have that ticket for race day.

Bruce Martin:

Even as a businessman, a highly successful businessman who's in his 80s, what did you learn business wise from going through that experience and did it make the Penske Corporation even stronger for having endured it?

Roger Penske:

Well, in any business it's not up, up, up, up. It's like racing. You don’t win the Indianapolis 500 every year. And I think that to me we were capitalized in a way that we could handle it. We still invested probably almost 20 million that year in improvements to the track.

So, it was time to go, not time to stop. And I think the benefit of our commitment is the fact that the byproduct today is much, much better. I've never seen the series stronger, 27 cars. I mean, we used to try to get 17 or 18.

We've got Indy next now with a field of 17 or 18 cars, and this is all part of the investment we've made. But I see a long, long opportunity here. The hundred days, the Indy show has been something else that's been special.

And these are things that are going to take time. We're not NASCAR, we're not Formula One, we're IndyCar and we got to remember what hat we wear.

Bruce Martin:

Even though a Team Penske driver did not win the 2021 Indianapolis 500, it was Helio Castroneves, a longtime team Penske driver who became the fourth four-time winning driver of the Indianapolis 500.

With the fans coming back, with reopening America as they said in 2021, what did you think when it was Helio that you congratulated with the winner’s check to win the Indianapolis 500 that year?

Roger Penske:

Well look, it couldn't have been a greater victory. We couldn't win it ourself. I keep telling Helio remember those first three was us old buddy and that fourth one with Mike Shank, which is a great team, and the team is coming on very strong.

But hey, he's the best. And you don't win this time four times when you think about Foyt and Unser, Mears and now Helio, there's a lot of races when you think about Indy 500 wins between what Al Unser with us, Mears and Helio. I mean, we've got the majority of those guys wins coming to our cars. So, I feel we're kind of part of it in all cases. Other than Foyt, I wish he'd had drove for us at one point.

Bruce Martin:

Earlier this season when we're out at thermal, you had said that you had invested in some more capital improvement to the facility. I don't know what — I think the number was 17 million or 30 million in capital improvement that you've made for this year's Indianapolis 500. What were some of those improvements that fans can expect to see when they come out here on race day?

Roger Penske:

Well, Bruce I think together we spent probably 30 or 35 since we've taken over the track this year, probably it's somewhere around 10 million. And basically, we've added more visual screens for the people sitting on the mounds.

Back off of turn three, we put a big screen across from the pagoda. We've certainly done a lot of work from the standpoint out in turn three and four for the road race, we'll have a road racer coming up.

We've moved a lot of the work out there, the golf course, certainly the whole PA system is new. These are things that you don't really see, but these are enhancements and really focusing on the guest experience from the standpoint of our concession stands is really important to us.

This year we have magnetometers for people coming through from a safety standpoint issue. These are things we've invested in this year, just to say a bit.

And then we've moved the entire TV compound from inside the track out on the back of turn four, which has given us more room for a midway that we can build to showcase some of our sponsors products. And that to me is going to be a key thing for us.

So, building the midway here, and then building a whole new area for the TV compound is one of our big projects this year.

Bruce Martin:

There's been more fans out to practice. The first week of practice there were more fans out on Saturday for qualifications. Another big crowd coming for Pole Day in the last chance, opportunity for drivers to get into the field, business has to be picking up here. And how excited are you about that?

Roger Penske:

I think the sport has momentum. I think the quality of the speedway and the environment in what you get when you come here is tremendous. The man upstairs has been very positive on the weather for us, which is really important as you look at this type of an event for the qualifying and practice.

But the numbers are amazing. I mean, when you think about almost 20,000 people here yesterday, on Fast Friday, and we'll have more than that as we look at Saturday and Sunday for this week as we close it out.

But it's going to be exciting coming on Sunday with obviously the, who gets that pole position. It's a coveted place. We've had it before, but the teams are strong and it's really going to be a fistfight and going to be important, but we're going to show the drivers and the TV audience that we've got something here that's pretty exciting.

Bruce Martin:

And also, as a fist fight, as you talk about, you won your 18th Indianapolis 500 in 2019, you've been stuck at that number for a while. I know your goal is to win 20 Indianapolis 500s.

Will Power was in the fast 12, couple of your other drivers are going to start further back, but qualifying is one thing, race day is completely different.

So, how special would it be for you to win your first Indianapolis 500 as the owner of the Indianapolis 500?

Roger Penske:

Well, that would be a real honor to win the race as the owner of the track. One thing I can say, I used to be standing on the box for seven or eight or nine days and run a race, which I really miss. I've got to stay away from it to have a … between what's going on the track.

But to me, the team is there, it's strong. There's some great competition. We've won two races already this year in the series, so we're certainly competitive.

Last year we won nine, won the championship, but weren't competitive at Indy. But I think we made a lot of headway. Some of the teams have made more as close. When you look at McLaren at the top, Ganassi these are all teams that are strong.

Then you look at ourselves and Andretti, which we're a little bit in the back, but we know how to win races.

And I think we'll see what happens with Will. I think he's got a pretty good car this year. And I know that both McLaughlin and Newgarden are very positive about their cars in race trim.

But look, it's going to be race day, you're going to have to run here, absolutely a perfect day. Stay out of trouble, have a little luck with you and six sigma’s not big enough. Good enough here. You're going to have to do everything right. And to me, I think we know how to execute.

Bruce Martin:

And also just wrapping up here with Roger Penske, chairman of the Penske Corporation and the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 in IndyCar, Penske Truck Rental is a key part of your business portfolio. They're kind enough to be a partner with Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

There's a lot of moving pieces that come into staging the world's biggest sporting event. Many of the trucks that come in here with vendors and other people that do business during the Month of May are Penske trucks.

How valuable of a property is that in the entire Penske Corporation portfolio and the fact that you’re winners on the racetrack and you’re winners on the road?

Roger Penske:

Well, when you talk about PTL and that's a company we built over 50 years, and we have now over 400,000 units, when you think about the overall business and over almost 3000 locations around the U.S.

But ironically this brand has been built on the heels and the back of our success in IndyCar. When you think about it, shows execution, it shows partnerships and transparency. And I think that's been the motto within Penske Truck Rental on leasing.

And quite honestly, something special here this weekend or this month, I would say, is we have an all-electric fleet of ours that is moving the tires in and out for Firestones.

So again, looking at sustainability, as you know, the whole IndyCar series now is running renewable fuels, and these are things that we're looking at. We can provide that from outside just Penske Entertainment, but we can utilize, again, the leverage we have within our other organizations.

And we want to do that on a way that makes everyone better from a sustainability standpoint. But also, we can be proud to say, hey, we care about the atmosphere, but we also want to have a guest experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that's best and very fairly priced. So, have some fun.

Bruce Martin:

And also, here you are in your mid-80s, but you look good. You apparently feel pretty good. Your energy level puts 40-year-olds to shame. Just what's a day like for Roger Penske?

Roger Penske:

Well, look, I get up every morning. That's a full-time job staying alive when you're my age. But no, I'm very fortunate. My wife is my biggest supporter and like my 14 grandchildren and five children, we've got a great family, a lot going on.

I think just it motivates you because you've got decisions to make every day. Your people are counting on your commitment. And I think I like to lead not from the top, but from the bottom. And I think that keeps me as a person from a physical perspective in good shape.

Now, I've had my own issues as you go along the way, but right now I'm ready for another 500.

Bruce Martin:

Well, he's certainly the biggest legend in the Indianapolis 500 when you look at his accomplishments over the entire history, 107 Indianapolis 500s, which the 107th will be run on May 28th.

Roger Penske, chairman of the Penske Corporation, the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history with 18 victories and the greatest auto racing team owner in history. Good luck in the 107th Indianapolis, 500. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Roger Penske:

Well, Bruce thank you very much and glad we can be part of it, to have a chance to talk to you today. Appreciate what you're doing for the sport. Certainly, the Pit Pass has been exciting to listen to many of your interviews. And I think it helps build us with some continuity of people like yourself that understand the sport, understand the teams and some of the issues we have as important. And delivering a message that's true and transparent is important. Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

Well, it's a true honor and privilege to be involved.

We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

Josef Newgarden:

Hey everybody, this is IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin:

Welcome back to this special Indianapolis 500 preview on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. The driver who will lead the field to the green flag of the 107th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28th as our next guest. It's Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Chip Ganassi Racing earned its third consecutive Indianapolis 500 pole with Palou in 2023, and Scott Dixon in 2021 and 2022. The last team to win three straight poles was Team Penske, which won four a row from 1988 to 1991. This is the eighth Indianapolis 500 pole for Chip Ganassi Racing. The second most of all time.

Arie Luyendyk earned the team's first 500 pole in 1993, followed by Bruno Junqueira in 2002 and Scott Dixon in 2008, 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2022.

Team Penske leads with 18 poles. This is the third time car number 10 has won the Indianapolis 500 pole. The last time was 1993 with Arie Luyendyk, who earned Chip Ganassi Racing's first 500 pole that year.

Palou tells us how he won the pole on this exclusive interview for a Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Joining us now on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental is the pole winning driver for the hundred seventh Indianapolis 500. It's Alex Palou at Chip GSI racing the fastest qualifier pole winner in Indianapolis 500 history. And when you put it in those terms, you have to really feel proud of what you did today.

Alex Palou:

Absolutely, absolutely. We knew we had a really fast car but honestly, to hear that it's been the fastest pole qualifier in history, it just means everything honestly. It's super special. We are going to be able to have the best view of possible on Sunday. And I couldn't be prouder of the whole Chip Ganassi racing team.

Bruce Martin:

When you arrived here for your first Indianapolis 500, it was during the COVID years, and there was nobody here, and they ran the race on August 23rd, and you didn't really get the full Indianapolis 500 experience.

The next year you nearly won it when you chased Helio Castroneves across the start finish line as he won his fourth Indianapolis 500. And I know you were really disappointed that day to come in second.

Now, it seems like you're really in control of the outcome of this race. Starting from the pole, you're one of the fastest cars all month, it's got to give you an extreme amount of confidence heading into race day on May 28th.

Alex Palou:

Yeah, absolutely. Honestly, I'm really privileged to have the car that we have. We've been really fast all month, as you said on race, on qualifying conditions.

And I wouldn't say we're in control because honestly, it's a really tough race. We know it's really long, but honestly, it couldn't be a better start. It's going to make our things easier for the first 10 laps at least. And it's going to depend on us to keep that position, to keep ourselves in the hunt for the win.

Hopefully we can make it happen. I'm really confident about our car speed and what we can do on race day.

But as you know, and as everybody knows, there's still a lot of work to do, but at the same time, super proud of making it until today.

Bruce Martin:

You’ll certainly be in control of the start of the race. But you're right, it's the tightest field that we've had in the Indianapolis 500 in years. If it wasn't for the last row not hitting 230, it would've been the first time in Indy 500 history that everybody in the field would've been over 230.

When you looked at the speeds that were produced this year using the current 2.2 liter engine, are you amazed that the cars are going that fast?

Alex Palou:

Yeah, I think I'm amazed, but everybody should be super amazed because we haven't had an update on power or anything like that. That's only because of how tight these series is and how hard each team, its driver, engineer, mechanic, everybody is working to make those cars faster here.

So yeah, it shows how crazy it gets each year. It was a record last year. It was a record this year, and I'm sure it's going to be another record next year.

Bruce Martin:

The good news is you won the pole for the Indianapolis 500. The bad news is it's going to be a whirlwind week of media in activities and engagements. You're going to be the biggest name in racing for the next week. If you win next Sunday, you'll be the biggest name in racing all over the world. But are you prepared for the world to discover or get to know Alex Palou?

Alex Palou:

Yes and no. Honestly, it feels amazing because that means that we are on the pole, but at the same time, I like to stay focused on racing. That's what I love. That's what I know how to do.

But honestly, yeah, it's a privilege to have all that attention from the media. I'll embrace that. I'll try and spread the Be the One campaign from American Legion as much as possible, help as much veterans as possible and help the team.

But we will stay focused on the race, try and win it.

Bruce Martin:

And wrapping up here with Indy 500 pole winner, Alex Palou at Chip Ganassi Racing, it's really shaping up to be a pretty good battle between Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren. I'm sure Team Penske will find a way to claw their way back in there over the course of a 500-mile race.

Of course, there's many others that are going to get involved in the battle, but how do you see it shaping up between those two power teams?

Alex Palou:

It's going to be tight, really tight. I think the four Ganassi cars are in the hunt for, for the wind. They're going to be contenders. I agree with you that all the McLaren cars look really good as well. That's already eight cars, and we haven't started with the carpenter cars, A.J. Foyt that it's been — I think everybody has some cars that can make the win on Sunday. So yeah, that's what it's so special about this place and about this series.

Bruce Martin:

And also, what was it like when you saw Chip Ganassi after you had clinched the pole?

Alex Palou:

Oh, everybody was so happy. He was really proud. He was celebrating so much. So yeah, it's pretty special.

Bruce Martin:

I’m sure in your world. Happy Chip is a good Chip.

Alex Palou:

Obviously.

Bruce Martin:

Alex Palou. Congratulations on becoming the fastest pole winner in Indianapolis 500 history. Good luck in next Sunday's 107th Indianapolis 500. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Alex Palou:

Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

Ryan Hunter-Reay is back at the Indianapolis 500. It has a speedy Chevrolet, prepared by Dreyer & Reinbold racing. The 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner joins me for this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview.

It's time to welcome back an old hero, a legend of the Indianapolis 500. It's 2014 Indianapolis, 500 winning driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, who is back for the 107th Indianapolis, 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold.

Ryan, you weren't involved in IndyCar last year. You were a reserved driver of Chip Ganassi Racing, but you didn't run at Indy. What's it like coming back after missing it for a year?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I mean, Indy is it for me. And it was actually kind of nice to gain some perspective on the whole thing, kind of get it removed. I had been with the same team for 12 years and to be coming back here in a consult role with Juncos last year for this race. I knew all along I wanted to come back, and it feels like it's been a long time, but it was well worth the wait.

I mean, being here with Dreyer & Reinbold, and this team and the atmosphere here is something that I'm really enjoying.

Bruce Martin:

Dreyer & Reinbold is known for having some fast cars in the Indianapolis 500. They're a one off here in Indy, meaning they only run the Indianapolis 500, the rest of the time they run in Rally Cross.

But Dennis Reinbold runs a really good team. He's got a great group of people that have been with him for a long time. The cars are fast. You got Chevrolet Power. How competitive do you expect to be at Indy this year?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I have really high expectations. When it comes down to it, like you said, it's about the people. For me, that was a big part of my decision-making process coming here.

I've been talking to Dennis for a long time over the off-season, and I really wanted to understand who was here and what went into it. And really, it starts with Dennis. I mean, this is what matters most to him. This is what really makes him tick is the Indianapolis 500, the history that he's had here.

And you can tell how much it means to him by the people that he has here, and the preparation attention to detail that goes into this effort.

So, I'm working with a, a bunch of guys that I've worked with here and there in the past at different teams. Really a bunch of talented individuals, for sure.

Bruce Martin:

When you are a non-driving capacity last year at the Indianapolis 500, do you make a good spectator or were you a bad spectator in terms of not being able to enjoy everything that's going on? Because you know what it's like to be behind the wheel of a car out on the racetrack.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I make a pretty bad spectator to anything. I just don't have the patience for it. But to be at the Indy 500 on race day was awkward. It was weird. It's odd, just not really having a car to go sit in on the grid was definitely odd.

But the good thing was I focused my energy on working with Juncos. I had something to do, and I actually contributed to the effort. So, that was enjoyable.

But yeah, I was definitely not ready to be on the outside looking in.

Bruce Martin:

What was the most striking thing to you from outside of the cockpit about this event?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I think the most striking thing is from the outside looking in, especially through the week of practice and into qualifying, just how stressful it is on everybody involved. And I didn't feel that stress because I really didn't have directly skin in the game. I was working with the team, but it wasn't something that made my heart rate go extremely up or down another direction.

So, to see that from the outside and then on race day, just to see how the energy, again, when you're in race mode and you're focused, you block a lot of stuff out, until you get in the race car and you throw the visor down, it's a lot of white noise at times. So, it was cool to see just how big of an impact this place has.

Bruce Martin:

In addition to working for Juncos last year at the Indianapolis 500, you also were a reserve driver for Chip Ganassi racing on standby for a lot of his various racing entities.

You told me back in April, there were a couple of weeks there beginning mid-year where you were pretty close to grabbing a helmet and getting back in the car when the situation with Alex Palou had developed. If you could tell our listeners, just from your point of view, how close you were to getting back into a race car midway through last season.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Well, the reserve driver role, which you pointed out with Chip Ganassi Racing came about after my role with the Cadillac effort in …

And so, I was the endurance driver on the 01 and the 02. And it came about a little bit later after that, after 12 hours of Sebring, they said, “Hey, while we're at it and you're in the family, you're with the team. Would you be willing to be reserve driver for the IndyCar team?”

And I said, “Sure, absolutely.” And as with anything they do is very professional, very streamlined. But yeah, when the Palou situation came up, it was day-to-day, week-to-week at times, nobody really knew what was going to happen. I think it shocked everybody in the first place that the situation arose.

And then how it played out after that was — nobody could really predict.

Bruce Martin:

Was Toronto the one race where you were probably the closest to having to jump into the car?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Well, I'm not really sure. You look at Toronto, yeah, and that was a huge splash. But then how it was dealt with on both sides, you couldn't tell where it was going. It wasn't obvious.

So yeah, I was just getting updates regularly. I was ready to go. That's what was really good about the situation. It kept me mentally ready to go, and physically I was prepared. So yeah, unique situation, to say the least.

Bruce Martin:

How did your situation with Dreyer & Reinbold develop?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Well, Dennis reached out early, and we kept up dialogue through, I was talking with a number of teams. And he's got a great reputation in the paddock. And like I said, it's about people. And really had a good feeling about him.

Know him casually through years in the past in IndyCar. But the more I got to know him and the more I got to know about the team and the people involved, it became a very clear decision.

Bruce Martin:

So, you were part of the Indy 500 open test here in middle of April. What was it like to return to Gasoline Alley and return to the track inside of an IndyCar?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

It was awesome. Having been out of the IndyCar, I think my last … so, the open test was April 19th. April 19th of ‘23. The last time I had been in IndyCar was in the Ed Carpenter racing car in late October of 2021 at Barber.

So yeah, it had been a bit, and these aren't the type of cars that you want to spend much time out of. So, it was really cool to get back in it. It felt fun. I was enjoying myself. So, we're checking those boxes off the list.

Bruce Martin:

I know that you're a very devoted family man. So, how important was the year off for you to be able to spend time with the wife and kids and do a lot of the things that you like to do down there in South Florida?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

It was priceless, honestly. They're at that age where they're so impressionable, having dad around to be a presence more often, like I've mentioned in the past, coaching their sports teams, being with them, working on that homework with them, reading with them, sharing opportunities with them.

And we drove around the Midwest in the motor home with a puppy, going to all the SRX races, that's something I'll never really be able to do again. Well, not because I don't want to do it again. It was crazy spending that much time in the motor home with the full family. But just really, really valuable experiences.

Bruce Martin:

Speaking of SRX, you got a lot of time to spend on the racetrack and off the racetrack with a lot of drivers. You probably had heard about, had seen race on TV and other racing series. What was it like to compete against them and get to know them?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

It was like nothing I'd ever done. These cars are big, heavy, wide cars with a lot of horsepower. They're under tired and I'm going up against the best in the business. These are guys that grew up racing short tracks and stock cars and stuff like that.

So, it was really cool to kind of learn, albeit, drinking from a fire hose. It was cool. Every different track had its own unique characteristics. Doing dirt for the first time, I really enjoyed it. It was a unique opportunity and I look forward to doing it again with even more cup champions coming in this year.

So, it's tough, for us open wheel guys we're used to drive the car hard, you go faster, and this thing, it was, if you drive hard, you're going to go slower. And so, it was tough for kind of rewiring my brain in that aspect.

Bruce Martin:

Were there any heroes that you got the race against? Because I imagine a lot of these guys, I mean, Bill Elliot, drivers like that, who were the heroes that you got the race against?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I mean, Bill Elliot, right there is one. When we go to SRX, we share like these little motor homes as downtime areas, changing areas. And Bill Elliot was in the motor home with me, and it was just really cool to talk to him for a while, having watched him, when I was so much younger, knowing the impact he had on the sport.

But even guys like Tony Stewart that I had watched and Newman, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle and all these guys. It was cool to share experiences with them and kind of talk about life as it is today. So, it was definitely enjoyable.

Bruce Martin:

Tony Stewart was an IndyCar driver before you became an IndyCar driver, so what was it really like to go out there and race against him? I mean, in a lot of ways he is a bit of a throwback to A.J. Foyt, a driver that you once raced for.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

He's a definite throwback. And I have so much respect for Tony. He races as hard as anyone and he'll be fair with you as long as there's some give and take at times. So, I was just trying to pull him for every bit of information I could, any bit I could learn from him.

Obviously, he's one of the series owners and he has to be fair to everyone. But I really appreciate his time and his advice through the journey.

Bruce Martin:

Now, looking back at the Ryan Hunter-Reay story, the glory days of your career came with Andretti Autosport. You were with them for over 10 years. Had the DHL car, which was one of the longest running sponsors at that time, continues to be with Andretti Autosport. You accomplished a lot of great things. And when you look at your time at Andretti Autosport, I'm sure there was a lot of great memories that you recall.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, I was there 12 years. It's one of the longest tenured sponsorships, like you said. And I think the years we've spent together, it's the only championship outside of Penske and Ganassi that's happened in, I don't know how long.

I mean, it's got to be in the 2000s, probably. It's the only one.

Bruce Martin:

Yeah.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Winning the 500 together. We've had so many close calls close to winning this race as well. Everybody can talk about that, I guess.

But no, it was a great time there. Absolutely. And I really appreciate the people that I worked with there and had a great run there. And like any book, it's time to turn the page, go to the next chapter.

Bruce Martin:

Major highlight in your career, obviously is the 2014 Indianapolis 500, one of the most thrilling races that they've had here. And in the race’s history, you and Helio Castroneves fighting, just going at it over those last laps. You also put a pretty good pass on your teammate at that time, Marco Andretti, that was able to help set you up.

But everybody remembers the turn three where you basically cut the grass going through there. When you look back at that finish, what's it like? Is it almost like watching a movie or do you recall every single detail?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

It doesn't get old just because it was so intense, having come off a red flag like that. It was an intense battle. Like you said, it's one of the best finishes of the Indy 500 history and I'm honored to be a part of it in that way.

But yeah, it even felt all that much better winning it that way. Wasn't finished under yellow. And nobody knew coming out of turn four, who's going to win the thing. You can't ask for any better than that.

Bruce Martin:

And also, it's still the second closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history, just to show what a great battle that was.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah, absolutely be in the record books I think for a long time. The competition's so tough now. I expect close finishes here. I expect it to come down to the wire like that, but that one was a unique battle. That for sure, I think is one that'll stand out.

Bruce Martin:

And also, you defeated Helio Castroneves who at that time was still Helio Castroneves. He was still a master of this place. His career is kind of moving along toward the end now.

But to be able to go mano a mano against one of the greats that's raced here, does it make it that much more satisfying when you beat him?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

It does. He's one of the greats, especially, he is one of the greats at Indy. And we were taking some seriously aggressive lines and maneuvers on each other, but the whole time it was all really fair. There was never anything really dirty between either one of us. And I have a lot of respect for him and for how those last seven laps of that race were raced.

Bruce Martin:

The other major highlight, of course, was 2012 — at that time it was the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship. They refer to it now as the NTT IndyCar Series Championship.

But you had to sweat that one out at Fontana, the last race of the year, a battle. And in the closing lap after they brought Will Power back in after he crashed, he had met up enough physicians, championship was in play.

How aware were you of where he was in those closing laps and how you basically had to finish where you were in order to win that title?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah. I think that in a way is a summary of my career. I've had to work and fight everything out to the final bitter end. In a lot of ways, the 2012 championship and how it ended was a lot like the 500 and how it ended, and it wasn't until the last lap of the entire championship if you knew we were going to pull it out.

And I still believed going into that race that we had a chance, and we were massive underdogs. I can't remember how many points down we were. It was something like 19 and nobody thought we had a chance at it.

But over 500 miles, really anything's possible. And yeah, it was, it was one of those storybook endings.

Bruce Martin:

After you won the 2014 Indianapolis 500, you may have had an even better car in the two Indy 500s after that. There was one where you ended up getting taken out by your teammate on pit lane, I believe, leaving the pits.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yes.

Bruce Martin:

I mean, how much does that one hurt?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah, that hurts a lot because just like the 2014, I knew about halfway through that race, I thought, okay, I have the car to win this thing. I just need to make sure I'm there at the fight for the end and for it to get caught up in something silly on pit lane, it's just such a shame. But yeah, it's one that I've lost a lot of sleep over.

Bruce Martin:

Do you like to remind Townsend Bell of that move?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I don't, because it's really not Townsend's fault. When the crew tells you go, go, go, go out of the pit box and they tell you which lane to go into, you go and yeah, the rest is history.

Bruce Martin:

But is it fair to say that those cars after your victory were probably your best cars that you ever had here?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Oh, for sure. Yeah, absolutely. 2014, 2016, 2016 arguably could have had even been better than 2014, the 2014 car, but there was one more in there. I can't remember if it was … I think 2017 as well.

Bruce Martin:

Also, we got to look back and reflect on the time you spent with the team owner that brought you back into IndyCar, Bobby Rahal.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah.

Bruce Martin:

And David Letterman. And how important was that because you were able to get them in the Victory Lane one year after they brought you back to the series?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah, that was a special win for not only me, coming back, my rebound from last winning in 2004 in Milwaukee and fighting to get back into a drive, back into a seat. It was a impactful win for my career, but it was big for the team as well. Because they had been through the tumultuous times of losing a driver and then searching for the right fit.

And yeah, it was a great part of my career working with Bobby, Scott, Remke. And I'll never forget Remke’s voice on the radio after we won that thing. And that's something that I hold very special to the heart and yeah, it's part of where I am today.

Bruce Martin:

Also, part of where you are today happened in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in the Indianapolis 500 to know that your face is on that BorgWarner Trophy, you're one of the ledgers of the trophy now, how important was that and do you always go up to the trophy and look for that face?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Like I said, right after we won it was that I'll be able to forever take my kids here and remember that face on there. I want a few more faces on there, but it's such a special part of this event, that the winner's face goes on this kind of eternal remembrance of the event and each one tells a different story.

So yeah, absolutely. I'll always go back and look for that. And it's not just an event, it's something that people live their whole lives pursuing. So yeah, it's one that I'll cherish forever.

Bruce Martin:

And also, there's about 300,000 tickets out there with your face on it.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah, I'm still signing them today, we're nine years on, I think, and I'm still signing tickets regularly. Maybe two, three a day.

Bruce Martin:

Next year will be the 10th anniversary of your Indianapolis 500 win. I'm sure you want to be in the starting lineup, but do you have anything that you would like to have that remembered by as a 10-year anniversary?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

In what way do you mean, remembered by?

Bruce Martin:

It will have been the 10th year, a lot of drivers, those are milestone anniversaries. For instance, this year it's the 50th anniversary of Gordon Johncock's first Indy victory. I'm sure you would like to get a second Indy 500 victory this year.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

I think that would be the best way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary is to get a second or a third if we can get a second here. Yeah, like you mentioned before, I want that race to be remembered for what it was and one of the best finishes in Indy 500 history.

Bruce Martin:

But looking forward to the 107th Indianapolis 500, you've got a great operation that you're part of. Like I said before, Chevrolet Power, you've got a team owner that's devoted to the Indianapolis 500. Just the expectation level that you're here for isn't just to compete, it's to get out there and race for the victory. How important is that? How realistic do you think it is that you'll be one of the contenders on May 28th?

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Yeah, I always said I wouldn't come back to this race unless I knew I had a shot at winning it, being at the front, competing for the win. And I feel that this program gives me that opportunity and these folks here are a big part of that.

So, it's just the beginning. We're just starting out this process for the 2023 Indy 500, but I think I can see everybody here is super hungry for it.

Bruce Martin:

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. Good luck in the 107th Indianapolis 500 and thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Ryan Hunter-Reay:

Thanks, Bruce. Always a pleasure.

Bruce Martin:

We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

[Music Playing]

Will Power:

This is Will Power of Team Penske, and you are listening to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck. Rental.

Bruce Martin:

Welcome back to this Indianapolis 500 preview on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. Let's spend some time with three drivers from Andretti Autosport, who hope to race their way through the field to get to the front in Sunday's race.

First up is Colton Herta, who will start the number 26 Gainbridge Honda from 21st starting position.

Joining us now is Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport. Colton, it's the Indianapolis 500. You've had some very good cars here in the past. You're back again for the 107th Indianapolis 500. I'm sure you feel like this is a great year for you to step up to the next level and end up on the top step of that stage. How do you feel entering the 107th Indianapolis 500?

Colton Herta:

You always feel confident going into the races, but you have so much practice in this that you can't think too much about it. Yeah, kind of have to take it day by day and just make sure you're on top of what you want out of the car and it's getting into the position where you want it.

Long race, obviously everyone talks about it's the longest race that we have on the schedule. And time-wise, it's almost double the amount of time as any other race that we have.

So, it's one that you can take kind of slow in the beginning and build up to it. But for us practice and everything, just trying to get the car dialed in and get it to the position where we want it.

Bruce Martin:

How important is it that at Andretti Autosport, you're able to go out and do drafting practice with all of the cars? We call it the Andretti Armada, but you guys will run lap after lap after lap where it will just be all Andretti Autosport cars. How valuable is that for the race?

Colton Herta:

I mean, there's a lot of aspects where it's a positive to have these many cars. Obviously, we have a lot more openness to what we're allowed to try set up wise. We have, basically what would it be? It'd be seven cars.

So, a lot of different set up options through those different things, so we can get done twice as much in a day as what other teams could probably do.

But yeah, it's important and you obviously get seven cars in a line, and you get to try all the different positions of getting that air wash. So, it's very important and it's also a huge helpful tool.

Bruce Martin:

What's it like having Marco Andretti back for the Indy 500? He has a lot of experience here. He has a lot of laps here. He hasn't been in an IndyCar except for last year's Indy 500, but how much does it help to have him back on the team for this race?

Colton Herta:

It's good. And he picks it up really quickly. He was 10th yesterday and I think a little bit better on no toes, but yeah, he picks it up quite quickly and obviously the experience is invaluable to have in this team.

So, that's the most important bit is you get somebody with a lot of experience here that knows all these changes, knows what the track's going to do in certain temperatures and whatnot. And so, yeah.

Bruce Martin:

When you came here in 2019, were you a wide-eyed rookie or did you really know what to expect? I mean, you grew up around the Indianapolis 500 because of your father Bryan, but was it more than you imagined?

Colton Herta:

Yeah, well when I was growing up around it, I wasn't really thinking about what was going on inside the cockpit and whatnot. So no, it was almost like a culture shock to me getting in here and there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. And so, it is pretty awesome to be back for my fifth 500 and obviously know a lot more than that rookie did in 2019. But no, it felt like a humbling experience when I first got here and got to feel the speed for sure.

Bruce Martin:

In other interviews, you told me about the first time you remember coming to the Indianapolis 500 I believe it was when your dad finished third-

Colton Herta:

Yep.

Bruce Martin:

In the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as tornadoes were approaching the speedway. Your biggest recollection of that wasn't what happened on the racetrack, but I guess that everybody telling you to get in the garage afterwards. What was it like as a young child, did you know what was going on?

Colton Herta:

No. I didn't know what was going on. I grew up in California too, so I didn't really know what a tornado was.

So, it was a different experience for me. Obviously, that's what stuck out to me, not really the race but race memories came a little bit later, but I do remember being here, remember being up in the suites up over there out of turn four and watching from the back of the suites, watching the back straight. But yeah, it is cool to see that it's come kind of full circle now I get to drive them.

Bruce Martin:

Do you feel like an Indianapolis 500 veteran?

Colton Herta:

No, I wouldn't say so. Not yet at least. There's still a lot for me to learn. There's still a lot that Helio knows, that Marco knows, that I wouldn't think of before. So, there’s still learning all the time, just as everybody is, even Helio's still learning every day about this place. It's the trickiest place that we go to.

Bruce Martin:

And as far though as there's a new breed of drivers, you're obviously one of the leaders of that fresh group of drivers that's coming up. Is it time for this generation to take the Indianapolis 500 victory and create the new heroes that people 20 years from now will be talking about?

Colton Herta:

I sure hope so. It'd be nice to have my first Indy 500 this early on in my career. And I would love to be able to kind of carry that on and hopefully build up a few more Indy 500s. So, if I can get it done this year, it's a lot of relief and a lot of stress that's off your back to get it done this early.

Bruce Martin:

Keep an eye on Colton Herta, a driver of the number 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Autosport in the 107th Indianapolis 500. Good luck on the race. Thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Colton Herta:

Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

Now let's hear from Kyle Kirkwood, the driver of the number 27 AutoNation Honda for Andretti Autosport. The Jupiter, Florida native will start 15th.

Let's catch up with Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Autosport here on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. Kyle, you come into the Indianapolis 500 for your second attempt, but you're a race winner this time. You won the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach back in April. How much does that victory boost your confidence to come here for the biggest race on the schedule?

Kyle Kirkwood:

It boosts it a little bit. I wouldn't say a lot because this is so much different than any kind of street or road course that we do. So, it's confidence inspiring, but at the same time, it's a much different job here.

I think it kind of sets the mood within the team that we are a race winning program, which is very positive. And we deserve to be out front. So, that's the main thing is just the aura that it brings around the team.

Bruce Martin:

But you can never undersell the value of momentum and to have a victory already, it relieves a little bit of the pressure of when am I going to win my first race?

Kyle Kirkwood:

Yeah.

Bruce Martin:

I guess that pressure now becomes, when am I going to win my first Indianapolis 500?

Kyle Kirkwood:

Yeah, exactly. It's you win your first race and you're like, okay, let's win a 500. Okay, now let's win a championship. Those are all really big things to do.

We've gotten one of them off the list, now it's time to do a couple more, but we've had one test day now, we felt really, really strong with that. We felt like we were one of the best cars in traffic, me and Colton specifically.

So, we're excited, we're excited, very excited because our cars are good, they’re fast right out of the box, which is something that's very important here.

Bruce Martin:

The number 27 AutoNation Honda at Andretti Autosport has been fast all season, so that's got to give you a lot of confidence here at the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway that you're going to be fast here.

Kyle Kirkwood:

Yeah, the teams made big strides over the off season. I know we've said that a lot, but it is true. And it shows here, I think as well, where we were rolled out of the box and I think we're quicker than they were last year.

So, it's just a testament to how much hard work has gone into this team and how much they are solely focused on this IndyCar program.

Because right now we've been kind of the ones to be … even though we've had some bad luck, we haven't been in the exact right position every single time, but everyone looks at us as top runners.

Bruce Martin:

Even though this is your first year back with the team, you've been a part of the Andretti Autosport family throughout your career, all the way coming up through the ladder series. What's it like having Marco Andretti back on the team this year? He only runs the Indianapolis 500, but to get one more driver with veteran experience on the team that can share feedback.

Kyle Kirkwood:

Well, he’s the driver with the most experience. So, he knows every aspect of what a car's supposed to do, what the weather's going to do, and he's a huge asset to us. And just having that name Andretti is big for us drivers.

So, huge benefit. We're obviously up to kind of seven cars under an umbrella, so it's all beneficial because we're all able to branch out, do separate things, and kind of reconvene with probably a better race car.

Bruce Martin:

How valuable is it when the Andretti armada, all seven cars get out there and run pack laps together, nose to tail, some jockeying around? You're one of the few teams that's got that many cars that can go out there and learn what it's going to be like on race day to running traffic?

Kyle Kirkwood:

Well yeah, so it's really nice because we know we're all on different setups and sometimes when you're in another car you can see the characteristics almost better than your teammate might be able to feel them, You're like, “Oh well, we really benefit compared to you here and you kill us there. So, you're focusing on that mostly. I think we learn a lot whenever we get out there and do our own pack running, just like that.

Bruce Martin:

What have you learned so far by running in those large groups?

Kyle Kirkwood:

I learned that our car’s fast. You're constantly learning, you're constantly adapting to conditions and race strategy depending on what driver’s in front of you and whatnot.

But I think the main thing we've learned so far is that our cars are really good in traffic. We feel really solid. We feel excited to get this thing going because right now I feel like we could wrap our car up, put inside the trailer and roll out with a easy top 10 car, at the moment.

Bruce Martin:

You drove the Indianapolis 500 last year for A.J. Foyt Racing, there was different rules. They've added a few more tweaks to the rules this year of things that you can do, the more drag, more down force. How does the car feel with those tweaks and how much of a better race do you think it will be?

Kyle Kirkwood:

I think the added down force is definitely a benefit for us because I think the past few years it's been tough to pass, especially when you're further back than four or five carts. It makes it nearly impossible to get around people because everyone's just in this massive tow train.

And I believe because we have this added down force, you're able to get closer and you're able to get bigger, so you just wait for someone’s small mistake. Of course, it's still very hard to pass when you're deep in a train, but it's making it better.

Bruce Martin:

There's a lot of great young talent in this year's NTT IndyCar series. Do you think now is the time where these drivers start to win races and they become the heroes of the Indianapolis 500 and people remember 20 years from now?

Kyle Kirkwood:

Yeah, I think us young drivers have the pace, which is why a lot of us are qualifying up front. But at the same time, it's these guys that are older, they're the ones with the experience and I think experience kind of triumphs pace in some aspects.

So, that's why you see Dixon, who sometimes doesn't qualify that well is right back up front. So, we're still learning from them, no doubt. But it's a strange crossover.

Bruce Martin:

Do you believe the time is now for Kyle Kirkwood?

Kyle Kirkwood:

Of course, I do. I wouldn't be in this series if I didn't think that was the case.

Bruce Martin:

Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the number 27 AutoNation Honda for Andretti Autosport. Good luck on the 107th Indianapolis 500 and thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Kyle Kirkwood:

Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

Wrapping up with our Andretti Autosport portion of Pit Pass Indy is Marco Andretti, who will compete in his only IndyCar series race of the season in the Indy 500. He will start his 18th Indianapolis 500 in 24th starting position in the number 98 KULR/Curb Honda.

Joining us now on Pit Pass Indy is, believe it or not, Marco Andretti, who's going to run his 18th Indianapolis 500 and the 107th Indianapolis 500. Marco, a lot of us remember when you were a rookie here, that was all the way back in 2006. Does it really seem like 18 years here?

Marco Andretti:

With all the heartbreaks we've had, yeah, it feels like 40. But no, I mean, I've had a lot of fun at this place. Actually, I've had a lot of success at this place. But we all know there's one position that matters here.

Bruce Martin:

Also, there's some unfinished business at this place and every time you turn around here, we're standing in Victory Lane. And you'll look over there at the starter stand, the flag stand, you can probably still see Sam Hornish just a little bit ahead of you in 2006.

I know that was a heartbreak, but when you reflect and know how good you did your first time out here, what goes through your mind?

Marco Andretti:

Well, I was still frustrated. That’s why I was called a sore loser, the first one, but I was so frustrated because I knew what it takes to win this. And I knew how close I was to winning it. And podiums are great, good points and all that, but there's one position here that matters. I do, however, wish the start finish line was in the middle of the front straightaway and not towards the end because that would've helped.

Bruce Martin:

As far though as the veteran experience you bring right now, the way Andretti Autosport’s full-time IndyCar lineup is, Colton Herta is the driver of the most experience, but at Indy it's you. How much can you help the whole overall team with your knowledge of what it takes to run laps here?

Marco Andretti:

I think that's going to play a part here in the next couple days, I'd say, because they're kind of on their own program right now, but we'll see where things shake out, set up with.

Bruce Martin:

Looking at Andretti Autosport, the fact they've been able to rebuild the team this year. They brought in some younger talent. As I said, Colton Herta, 23, he's the most veteran driver on the team, but Kyle Kirkwood's won a race this year, a real star for the future.

They got Romain Grosjean who’s back for a second year with the team. He's got a lot of experience in Formula One. And then of course Devlin DeFrancesco, who's still learning his way through IndyCar. What do you think of the remake that your father Michael was able to do with Andretti Autosport for the full season?

Marco Andretti:

Yeah, I think for full season they're pretty stout. When you look at this race, it's actually crazy. I have 11 more starts than all of them combined, that makes me obviously sound pretty old.

But for the rest of the year, I think, yeah, they're pretty stout. I mean, Romain's been knocking on the door for a win. And in a lot of second places. They're all quick for pole, stuff like that.

But yeah, I think, now that we have a little more resources and stuff, I think they have a good pack put together.

Bruce Martin:

In many ways. You grew up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when your father was running. You as a small child would spend Months of May here. What are your first recollections of this place?

Marco Andretti:

The old Speedway Motel, probably, before they knocked it over. Listening to Carnegie on the loudspeaker, at that time there was four of my family members playing in this race. So yeah, just watching them on TV and trying to follow really closely. I remember sneaking into the garage with my grandfather in the trunk, so being able to come in and see the race cars, it was pretty cool.

Bruce Martin:

When did you realize what the Andretti name means to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Indianapolis 500?

Marco Andretti:

I think I learn it more and more every year, really. I mean, it's a pretty special thing and I mean it's farfetched right now, but if we're still blessed to be able to raise money with sponsors and I'm able to be unscathed. If I do another 12 of these, I can beat my grandfather's record. So, he has 29 starts and that'd make me 30.

Bruce Martin:

One of the great accomplishments that you had on this racetrack came in 2020 when you won the pole. Very emotional. There were a lot of happy people in Gasoline Alley to see you do that. What did that mean to you?

Marco Andretti:

I think that was pretty cool. Seeing that from my peers was special feeling. I think they've witnessed a lot of my heartbreaks especially around this place. And so, yeah, I mean that was a special feeling, made me feel good.

Bruce Martin:

What does Marco Andretti do these days, the other 11 months out of the year?

Marco Andretti:

We're able to win a WWF series. I call it. Like the more fun SRX series with Tony Stewart and stuff like that. Those are more like fun and there's a smile on my face and beating and banging and dirt tracks, so I'm able to just unwind and have fun and stuff like that. I'll look at some sports car stuff this year.

And then, I have some real estate and aviation stuff going on the rest of the time, but I mean, I couldn't be happier with my schedule, and this is a golden goose for me.

Bruce Martin:

There's a lot of people that still pull for you. Marco Andretti.

Marco Andretti:

Thank you, man.

Bruce Martin:

Good luck at the 107th Indianapolis 500. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Marco Andretti:

Thank you for having me.

[Music Playing]

Bruce Martin:

And that puts a checkered flag on this Indianapolis 500 preview of Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. We want to thank our guests, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske, the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history with 18 wins. Also 107th Indianapolis 500 pole winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, Ryan Hunter-Reay of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. And three of the five drivers at Andretti Autosport, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marco Andretti for joining us on today's podcast.

Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests help make Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental your path to Victory Lane for all things IndyCar.

And because of our guest and listeners, Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental is proud to be the winner of the best podcast by the National Motorsports Press Association. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500.

This has been a production of Evergreen Podcasts. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Brigid Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin and final mixing was done by Dave Douglas. Learn more at evergreenpodcasts.com.

Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.

Hide Transcript