Awards galore for Penske at Indy.

Not only did Marlboro Team Penske earn a record twelfth victory at Sunday's Indianapolis 500, but three members of the team were also recognised throughout the month of May for their individual achievements.

Roger Penske was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame, which honours drivers, car owners, mechanics and event officials who have made significant contributions to the success and colourful history of the sport. The ceremony took place at the Oldtimers Club Banquet on Friday 17 May, where Penske joined fellow inductees Sid Collins - the 'Voice of the 500' and car owner Andy Granatelli.

Tim Cindric, president of Penske Racing Inc. was awarded the inaugural Herb Porter Memorial Award and a cheque for $2000 at the Oldtimers Club Banquet as well. Herb Porter was an engine builder who owned Speedway Engine Development Inc with Rick Long in a race shop located on Gasoline Alley, just a few miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Porter spent his life building engines for his one true love - the Indianapolis 500, and the Herb Porter Memorial Award is presented annually to the person who, through innovation, technical advancement, or other accomplishments, has enhanced the philosophies and goals of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Receiving the award was particularly special for Cindric because, as a boy, he spent many summers in what is now the Speedway Engine Development shop where his father, Carl, worked with Porter and Long. Porter was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1999, just 26 days before his death on 16 June.

Clive Howell, general manager of Marlboro Team Penske was awarded the fifth annual True Grit Award on Thursday 23 May, an honour for those who exemplify the criteria of outstanding achievement, overcoming adversity, excellence in preparation and management, Indy 500 experience, dedication to the highly skilled trade of working on
Indy cars and overall racing background and performance during May. Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing Inc presented Howell with the award, along with a cheque for $10,000 from C&R Racing, Inc and Visteon Climate Control Systems.

Penske also competed successfully in the Coors Indy 500 Pit-Stop Challenge, which showcases the work of the pit crews. Race winner Helio Castroneves and
team-mate Gil de Ferran competed in their identical Marlboro Team Penske Dallara-Chevrolets against ten other crews from teams competing in the 86th Indianapolis 500, and both made it to the semi-finals - where they competed against each other. Castroneves' crew recorded a pit-stop of 8.7355secs to edge out de Ferran, who had a stop of 9.7465secs.

Castroneves met Jeff Ward and the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team in the final, where his crew notched the victory - and $32,000 - with a time of 8.555secs over Ward's time of 10.3433secs. This marked Penske Racing's record seventh win in the annual Indianapolis 500 contest and its first win since 1988.

Castroneves then led the final 24 laps to earn the chequered flag at Sunday's 500, as well as claimed the top spot in the Indy Racing League Championship with 195 points. In only his second appearance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Castroneves became the first driver ever to win twice in his first two attempts and only the fifth driver in history to win back-to-back. The last driver to do this was Al Unser (1970-71), who joined other consecutive winners Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48) and Bill Vukovich (1953-54).

In addition, at the age of 27, Castroneves is now the youngest driver ever to win two Indianapolis 500s. Previously, Louis Meyer was the youngest, capturing his second title at the age of 28. AJ Foyt took his second chequered flag when he was 29 years old. Castroneves' win also marks the first time a team has won consecutive victories at the Brickyard since Marlboro Team Penske won with Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993 and Al Unser Jr in 1994.