Most Indianapolis 500 wins by a team (19 – Penske)

Lore & Background

Under Roger Penske's iron-willed leadership, the organization evolved into a powerhouse, blending meticulous preparation with a knack for hiring drivers who could handle the race's 500-mile mental marathon. The team's ability to adapt—from the turbocharged CART wars to the reunified IndyCar Series—has been its secret weapon, turning rule changes into opportunities.

In Their Own Story

In the Penske garage, Rick Mears sat motionless in the cockpit of the Penske PC-21-Chevrolet, his hands steady on the wheel, his eyes locked on a point only he could see. The crew had prepared the car with surgical precision—every bolt torqued to the thousandth of an inch, every aerodynamic tweak calculated from wind-tunnel data. As the green flag dropped, Mears didn't just drive; he danced, carving through the field like a silver bullet on a mission. Each lap, the crowd's roar swelled, and when he took the checkered flag for his fourth win, the Penske crew erupted—not just in celebration, but in the quiet, electric certainty that they had added another chapter to an unbreakable legacy.

Reader's Guide

The record for most Indianapolis 500 wins by a team is held by Team Penske, with 19 victories as of the most recent running. The significance of this record lies in the race's status as the world's greatest spectacle; no other team has come close to matching Penske's consistency or success. Each win represents a unique blend of driver skill, engineering prowess, and strategic acumen, often in the face of fierce competition from rivals like Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing. The record underscores Penske's role as a defining force in IndyCar history, with victories spanning decades and rule eras.

Did You Know?

• Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves are the only drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times with Team Penske, tying the record for most wins by a driver.
• Roger Penske himself has never driven in the Indianapolis 500, but his team's 19 wins make him the most successful owner in the race's history.