Who is the richest person on the IndyCar grid? A glimpse into the motorsports obsession of the $6 billion-worth mogul

Beyond the racing action and championship wins, managing finances remains a crucial aspect of IndyCar. One prominent figure who maintains the highest financial influence in the sport is Roger Penske, the chairman of Penske Corporation.

A former late model and Formula 1 driver, Roger Penske shifted his focus to team ownership and management in the year 1966. He let go of his racing aspirations in the process and developed Team Penske, which made its debut in the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona.

Three years after Team Penske's debut, Roger Penske also gave rise to the American automotive mammoth, Penske Corporation, Inc. It would go on to become a conglomerate of over 60 companies and notably includes Penske Automotive Group and Penske Truck Leasing.

In 2019, Roger Penske took his motorsports legacy to another level. He purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NTT IndyCar Series, and the Indianapolis 500 race itself. The acquisition made headlines and added to Penske's immense wealth.

Penske's net worth has grown multifold in the last two years. According to Forbes, the 87-year-old is currently worth $6.2 billion, making him the richest individual involved in IndyCar. He is among the wealthiest motorsports personalities all around the globe.

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Roger Penske's success in IndyCar as a team and business owner over the years

Ever since its debut, Team Penske has gone on to establish itself as one of the most successful racing teams in all of motorsports. It has won 20 Indianapolis 500 races, the most in the race's history. Team Penske has also won 17 IndyCar Championships, three NASCAR Cup Series titles, two Xfinity Series championships, and over 500 race wins across all ventures.

On three occasions, Roger Penske's team has emerged victorious in the Daytona 500 race. Furthermore, Team Penske has also secured multiple championships in IMSA and Supercars. As a chassis constructor, Team Penske also won a Formula 1 race in 1976.

Beyond his racing success, Roger Penske has also led his company Penske Corporation to immense heights. Today, the conglomerate is a global leader in transportation services, with operations spanning automotive dealerships, logistics, and more.

More recently, Penske also acquired the Grand Prix of Long Beach, one of the most prestigious street races in the United States. Furthermore, the Penske Automotive Group, owned by the Ohio native, is the third-largest dealership network in the United States.

In recognition of his achievements in both racing and business, Roger Penske was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019. This prestigious award is the highest civilian honor in the United States. Penske had stated after receiving the honor (via teampenske.com):

"It's a wonderful honor to receive this award... Winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom is very special, and to me it means more than any business success or motor sports trophy."

In NASCAR, Team Penske driver Joey Logano clinched Roger Penske's third consecutive Cup Series Championship as a team owner last season. It was Logano's third title.