Spectacular Account of Shell and Team Penske's Streak of Triumphs Titled 'Seasons of Victory'
Team Penske and Shell/Pennzoil charge full steam ahead into 2025, riding a tidal wave of achievements that put them in the record books of motorsports history.
It all began in 2022 when Joey Logano secured his second NASCAR Cup Series Championship in the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Mustang. In the same season, Will Power drove the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet to his second NTT IndyCar Series Championship for Team Penske.
Despite Verizon's primary sponsorship, Power's Chevrolet uses specially formulated Shell/Pennzoil lubricants, a common practice among the team's drivers, including Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin.
In an unprecedented feat for the team owner Roger Penske, his cars clinched the NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the IndyCar Series Championship in the same season. The incredible run started with Austin Cindric's victory in the Daytona 500.
Josef Newgarden extended Team Penske's record for Indianapolis 500 wins to 19 when he won a nail-biting Indy 500, defeating 2021 Indy winner Marcus Ericsson in a dramatic one-lap final sprint. In 2023, Ryan Blaney claimed Team Penske's second-straight NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.
The success of 2022 intensified in 2024, with Newgarden earning a historic repeat Indy 500 victory in another thrilling last-lap duel against Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren. Newgarden joined an exclusive club of racers who won two Indy 500s in a row, including Team Penske's Helio Castroneves.
Logano capped off the 2024 season by clinching his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship in the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang at Phoenix, securing Penske's fifth NASCAR Cup Series title in three consecutive seasons.
Apart from NASCAR and IndyCar, Porsche Penske Motorsport won the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship and the Hypercar Drivers Championship in the World Endurance Championship. Unlike the NASCAR and IndyCar efforts, Porsche Penske Motorsports has a technical alliance with Mobil 1.
The success story continued with the No. 7 Porsche 963 team and Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr being crowned the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTP class champions, marking the 45th championship victory for Team Penske in its 58-year history.
Entering 2025, Newgarden aims to make history as the first driver to win three consecutive Indianapolis 500s, while Logano seeks a second-straight NASCAR Cup Series Championship, his fourth overall, setting the stage for another remarkable season.
"It sounds really good to say it like that," Logano says. "It's a team effort between Team Penske and Shell in so many different levels."
Roger Penske's love for racing began at age 14 when he attended the 1951 Indianapolis 500 with his father. His racing career took off, with Sports Illustrated naming him "Driver of the Year" in 1961. Penske retired as a driver to focus on creating his own racing team, forming Penske Racing in 1966.
One of Penske's first Indy wins as a team owner came in 1972 with Mark Donohue. Since then, Team Penske has amassed an impressive collection of titles, including 646 race victories and 47 championships across various racing forms.
The successful relationship between Shell/Pennzoil and Team Penske has a long history, dating back to 1983. Shell's technical alliance with Team Penske offers a competitive edge, with Shell engineers developing the NASCAR Series lubricants that help provide an advantage for the team.
"I truly feel like it gives us an advantage," Logano says of the technical alliance. "With the continuity that's just been there for a long time, I feel like that has really helped us."
Looking ahead, the Shell/Pennzoil and Team Penske partnership will strive for continued success in the 2025 racing season and beyond, with an eye on creating history on the track.
- In 2025, the Shell/Pennzoil lubricants, a common practice among Team Penske's drivers like Joey Logano, Josef Newgarden, and others, will probably continue to play a significant role in the team's quest for success.
- Despite the competitive nature of motor racing, particularly in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NTT IndyCar Series, it's likely that Team Penske and Shell/Pennzoil will continue to compete with the technical alliance that offers a competitive edge in emissions performance.
- Moving forward, the Shell/Pennzoil and Team Penske partnership will probably strive for continued success in the 2025 racing season and beyond, aiming to create new records in the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR Cup Series, and other racing forms, following in the footsteps of previous achievements.