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Penske Sets His Sights on Le Mans Glory After Daytona Triumph

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Penske Sets His Sights on Le Mans Glory After Daytona Triumph

Roger Penske is on a mission. After capturing his first overall victory at the Daytona 24 Hours since 1969 with his Porsche prototype team, the legendary racing leader is setting his sights on the ultimate prize: conquering Le Mans.

Penske’s No. 7 963, driven by a stellar team of Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell, Josef Newgarden, and Felipe Nasr, edged out Cadillac in a nail-biting finish to secure Porsche’s 19th Daytona title. This win marked a significant milestone for Penske, adding to his team’s previous sportscar victories at Daytona: a GT/GTO class win in 1966 and the 1969 overall win with Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons in a Lola T70-Chevrolet.

Reflecting on his team’s long history at Daytona, Penske reminisced about their 1969 win with NBC. “Things were a lot different in those days,” he said, contrasting the current race with the one five decades ago. He also expressed his appreciation for IMSA, Porsche for providing the winning equipment, and his incredible team of drivers, particularly Felipe Nasr for his crucial role in securing the victory. The competitiveness of the race was undeniable, with the winning margin a mere six or seven tenths of a second after 24 grueling hours.

if the Daytona win added pressure to conquer Le Mans in June, Porsche Motorsport’s director of factory racing, Urs Kuratle, offered a lighthearted response. “Ask me tomorrow if it’s more or less pressure!” he chuckled.

On a more serious note, Kuratle acknowledged the team’s learnings from Daytona. “The good thing is that we know the car can do it,” he stated, impressed by all four Porsche entries finishing the race without major technical issues. However, he recognized the need for improvement. “It’s not a secret that we are not completely there yet,” he admitted. “There’s still a lot to do for us towards Le Mans and all the other races.”

Jonathan Diuguid, Penske’s managing director, praised the No. 7 driver lineup for their exceptional performance. “The fact that all four of our winning drivers led the race at some point shows you how strong they were all day long,” he said. He emphasized the team’s unwavering focus throughout the race, highlighting how each driver contributed significantly to the victory.

With the Daytona win under their belt, the entire Penske team is now aiming even higher. Le Mans beckons, and Roger Penske is determined to add this prestigious trophy to his already impressive collection.

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