Internet, USA — In a shocking turn of events that absolutely no one asked for, self-proclaimed racing experts on Facebook have declared Roger Penske guilty of the highest motorsport crime: “ruining the series.”
That’s right. The 87-year-old billionaire who literally saved IndyCar from the brink during a global pandemic is now the villain in the latest episode of Keyboard Warriors: Oval Edition.
The Case Against Penske
What are the charges? Well, let’s consult the Facebook comments section:
- “It’s all too corporate now.”
- “Team Penske wins too much.”
- “The cars don’t look as cool as they did in 1996 when I was 12 and life had meaning.”
- “Why does the IMS bathroom smell less like a barn now? Bring back the tradition!”
While Penske has invested millions into safety, promotion, and infrastructure, critics argue he’s taken the soul out of the sport—a soul which apparently lives in bad camera angles, gravel parking lots, and mysteriously sponsored backmarkers.
“The Fix Is In” – Guy Who Thinks the Earth Is Flat
A common complaint is that Team Penske’s success is “suspicious” now that Roger owns the series. Because clearly, Josef Newgarden winning races is not about talent, strategy, or decades of experience—it’s all part of a sinister plan by The Captain to pad his trophy shelf and anger Larry from Terre Haute.
“I just don’t trust it,” says a man with a Jeff Gordon profile picture who hasn’t watched a full race since 2013.
The Glorious Past We All Imagined
Many fans fondly recall “the good old days,” which historians believe occurred sometime between 1995 and whatever year their favorite driver retired. Back then, things were “better,” even though teams were folding left and right, sponsorship was drying up, and there were more lawsuits than lead changes.
Still, at least it wasn’t… organized.
Let’s Be Real for a Second
Love him or hate him, Roger Penske has done more for the sport than any of his armchair critics. He’s not perfect, and sure, some things could be better (looking at you, Peacock exclusives), but “ruining the series”? Please.
If saving it from collapse, bringing in new manufacturers, and hosting the best Indy 500 in years is “ruining” it—maybe we could use a little more of that.
Final Thoughts
To all the Facebook experts out there: your passion is appreciated. But maybe—just maybe—before calling for Penske’s resignation between posts about flat tracking and Dale Jr.’s podcast… take a deep breath. Touch grass. Watch a race. Enjoy the fact that IndyCar is alive, kicking, and actually getting cooler—even if the memes say otherwise.
