Pagenaud's IndyCar Championship Delivers Team Penske Major Uplift

Team Penske yesterday delivered when Simon Pagenaud won at Sonoma Raceway to "wrap his first career IndyCar championship." It was the 14th series title for Penske, which also "managed the first 1-2-3 sweep of the standings since another group of Penske drivers did it" in '94. Scott Dixon's sixth place finish in the standings, his lowest since '05, "didn't give sponsor Target the send-off it had hoped after 27 years in IndyCar" (AP, 9/19). The "bright yellow paint scheme" of Menards will "return to IndyCar with 10 races of sponsorship" for Pagenaud in '17 (AP, 9/17).

Meanwhile, IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has "signed a four-year extension with Andretti Autosport, his professional home" since '10. He will retain DHL's sponsorship of the No. 28 car (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/19).