A little after 10:30 in the morning on Sunday, June 2, 2019, I sat in a chair behind one of many Penske transporters set up on Belle Isle. As a crew of several men and women prepared for race two of the Dual in Detroit, I waited to begin an interview with IMSA driver Hélio Castroneves. I was greeted by a well-dressed PR man, who asked me to give him a few moments to ensure Castroneves' readiness before we met to talk about finishing on the podium the day before in the IMSA Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
While I waited, a Penske employee walked by, wrapping cord. As he walked, I stared, transfixed. Never before had I seen such care taken to what many consider menial work. This employee carefully, methodically wound cord around a reel with immaculate precision. He stepped slowly, eyes locked on the reel as he wrapped, pausing and adjusting the cord every few steps to make sure a perfect, tight, 100 percent correct wind.
All at once, after years of observation, watching a man wrap cord completely explained what separated Penske from other race teams. Every detail—be it the staff's clean and pressed uniforms, pristine-looking race paddocks or wrapped cord—receives thoughtful attention and is held to a high standard. To see Team Penske instill that level of importance into what most would consider an inconsequential detail, I trust absolutely that same team to double-check the tightness of every bolt, perfectly lubricate every necessary part and triple-check all the settings of its Acura DPi IMSA cars and Chevrolet Dallara Indy cars in Detroit.
Attention to detail. Placing importance on every aspect of the racing operation has led Penske to over 500 race victories across NASCAR, sports car and IndyCar racing. And 18 of those victories come from the Indianapolis 500, an unparalleled, indeed uncanny achievement.
Soon after that moment passed, the PR man returned and led me to Castroneves. Yes, he and teammate Ricky Taylor had made the podium, but Castroneves certainly preferred his other teammates' position—Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron won that race. And I bet my left leg that the veteran driver would rather be in Josef Newgarden's shoes, who won race one of the IndyCar Dual. But no matter: Castroneves' two-decade-long career at Penske Racing has taught him that the team comes first, and every single member of it plays a vital role.
As we left, I saw a team of three people winding up an 8-foot-wide section of side awning from their tent. And I'll be darned if it wasn't the neatest, tightest, most evenly wrapped side awning I've seen.
Managing Editor ROBIN WARNER can be reached at robin.warner@hearst.com
