Tim Cindric has decided to step back from overseeing all of Roger Penske's racing programs to focus solely on leading Team Penske's three-car IndyCar effort. The decision comes after decades of managing multiple racing teams across IMSA, IndyCar, and NASCAR.

Cindric, who turns 57 in April, started with Penske in 1999 as president of the IndyCar team. His role expanded over the years to include oversight of the American Le Mans program (2005), NASCAR operations, and even Supercars in Australia. After 25 years of non-stop involvement across multiple racing series, Cindric felt it was time to find better work-life balance.

The decision wasn't driven by any negative factors but rather a desire to experience life beyond racing. Cindric approached Roger Penske after the 2024 holidays to discuss scaling back his responsibilities. During their meeting in Detroit, Penske was supportive of Cindric's decision to focus on IndyCar operations.

Under the new arrangement, Cindric will:

• Maintain his position as president of Team Penske's IndyCar program
• Continue as minority owner of the open-wheel team
• Remain as head coach and strategist for Josef Newgarden's No. 2 Chevy
• Oversee Penske's historic race car collection and archives

The timing of the decision follows a successful period for Penske Racing, with championships in IMSA and NASCAR last year, plus back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories. The reduced schedule will allow Cindric to participate in events he previously couldn't attend, such as the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

"I might actually get to go to Amelia Island or Goodwood," Cindric said, "Or go see and experience some of the other things in life that are out there."

Related Articles

Previous Articles