Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2024 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.
How sweep it was for Team Penske on May 20 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Scott McLaughlin won the NTT P1 Award in Firestone Fast Six qualifying for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, leading only the second front row sweep by one team in the history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” with Will Power qualifying second and defending race winner Josef Newgarden third. Team Penske first achieved the feat in 1988, with Rick Mears on the pole, Danny Sullivan starting second and Al Unser third.
That was the first career Indianapolis 500 pole for McLaughlin, who also set the fastest four-lap average pole speed in the history of the race of 234.220 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. McLaughlin’s best qualifying position in three previous Indianapolis 500 starts was 14th in 2023.
Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2018 “500” winner Power qualified second after his run of 233.917 in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Two-time series champion Newgarden rounded out the front row after his run of 233.808 in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet.
It was the record-extending 19th Indianapolis 500 pole for Team Penske on the hottest day of the 2024 event, with air temperatures reaching 91 degrees and track temperatures topping out at 129 degrees.
Just a week later, Newgarden charged from third to secure his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory, the 20th for Team Penske.
A front row sweep and “500” victory was a shot of rejuvenation for the organization at IMS.
Team Penske entered the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with two consecutive “500” wins by Power in 2018 and Simon Pagenaud in 2019.
However, Penske drivers qualified 13th, 22nd, 25th and 28th in 2020 at Indy and finished fifth, 11th, 14th and 18th. That was a precursor to a frustrating four years in the biggest race of the season where the 11th-place start by Power in 2022 was the top Team Penske “500” grid position between 2020-23.
While none of its three drivers took home a championship in 2024, Team Penske performed in the most important month of the year.
