About a year ago, the technical partnership between A.J. Foyt Racing and Team Penske started to develop, yielding significant advantages for both teams this season.
This collaboration has been incredibly fruitful for Foyt Racing, with Santino Ferrucci achieving seven top-10 finishes and standing 10th in the championship after 12 races, aided by Penske-associated race engineer James Schnabel.
For Penske as well, particularly during the Indianapolis 500, the alliance has brought a resurgence. Thanks to the expertise of Foyt’s technical director and engineering whiz Michael Cannon, Penske achieved a rare front row sweep in qualifying—its first since 1988—led by pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin.
The race witnessed Josef Newgarden clinch his second consecutive victory, executing another last-lap maneuver, this time against Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.
Currently, Will Power ranks highest among his teammates in the championship standings, trailing Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou by 49 points (411-362), with his two wins marking a high point in what has been a consistent year.
Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
Photo by: Josh Tons / Motorsport Images
While it is still early in the partnership, Team Penske President Tim Cindric recognizes the importance of the collaboration.
“Helping people like James Schnabel, who works as a race engineer with Santino, contributes to our growth in this environment,” Cindric told Motorsport.com.
“At the same time, it gives him insight into how top teams function organizationally, highlighting that success involves more than just car setup but also the processes and collaborative interactions we have.”
“Even if you have the best setup on the track, it may not guarantee success unless all components are aligned.”
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Mustang and Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford Mustang
Photo by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Images
Cindric views this partnership as akin to the one Penske maintains with the Wood Brothers in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Continuing to develop our personnel is crucial,” he stated. “If we don’t enable our team to grow internally, they often seek new opportunities elsewhere.”
“Thus, it’s essential for us to foster that growth. We undoubtedly experienced mutual success at Indy this year, and the collaboration was beneficial for both.”
“Simultaneously, the Foyt team is gaining insights to understand what’s required to elevate their performance.”
When asked about the long-term goals of the partnership with Foyt, Cindric remarked, “As long as it remains beneficial for both parties, it will sustain itself.”
