DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Austin Cindric only knows one culture — the crisp, clean, “Penske Perfect” way of doing things — and it fits him rather well.
He has grown up inside Team Penske, where his father was hired as president when Cindric was just a baby. Cindric was toddling along the Yard of Bricks two years later as his family celebrated Helio Castroneves’ first Indianapolis 500 victory.
Cindric is no longer the little boy who nearly knocked over the Borg-Warner Trophy during Castroneves’ celebration back in 2001. He’s a 23-year-old professional race car driver earning his own keep at Team Penske.
Cindric stamped his spot in Penske history Sunday by winning the Daytona 500 on Roger Penske’s 85th birthday. The team owner has known Cindric since he was child “playing with his toys in his bedroom” back in Pennsylvania.
“I’ve seen him grow up as a young man. He’s been focused, he’s been a student of the game, is a smart young man,” Penske said. “I think he works with the team well. He’s in the shop all the time. And he’s a team player, and he understands his position. He’s a mature man at his age.”
