Tim Cindric has detailed how the technical partnership between A.J. Foyt Racing and Team Penske has been advantageous for both teams this season.
Foyt’s squad has seen a revival, with Santino Ferrucci achieving seven top-10 finishes and currently ranked 10th in the championship after 12 races, thanks in part to Penske-affiliated James Schnabel serving as his race engineer.
Penske has also made a comeback, especially evident at the Indianapolis 500. With the support of Foyt’s technical director and engineering expert Michael Cannon, Penske accomplished an impressive front row sweep in qualifying – their first since 1988 – led by pole position holder Scott McLaughlin.
During the race, Josef Newgarden clinched his second consecutive victory, executing another thrilling last-lap pass against Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.
At the moment, Will Power ranks highest among his teammates in the championship standings, trailing Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou by 49 points, showcasing a consistent year with two victories.
Although the season is still early, Team Penske President Tim Cindric recognizes the importance of this collaboration.
“I think being able to assist individuals like James Schabel, who is working with Santino as a race engineer, is fostering growth for our team in this environment,” Cindric shared with Autosport.
Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
Photo by: Josh Tons / Motorsport Images
“Simultaneously, it allows him to observe how the top teams operate from an organizational perspective, as I believe that both processes and collective interactions are just as critical as the setup of the race car itself.
“Even if you have the optimal setup on the car, success isn’t guaranteed; you must consider all aspects.”
Cindric compares the partnership to the collaboration Penske has with the Wood Brothers in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“It’s essential to continuously develop your personnel,” he emphasized. “If your team members don’t evolve internally, they’re likely to seek growth elsewhere.
“Thus, fostering this development is vital for us. Clearly, we both achieved success at Indy this year, and I believe there was a fruitful collaboration between us. We have mutually supported one another.
“At the same time, the Foyt team is gaining from understanding what is needed to elevate their performance from their current status to their desired goals.”
When asked about the long-term goals of the partnership with Foyt, Cindric simply stated: “As long as it remains mutually beneficial, it will naturally take care of itself.”
