Austin Cindric not concerned about future with Team Penske after his father was fired this week
Cindric drives the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Penske in the NASCAR Cup Series, and is currently 12th in the points standings with three top-10 finishes in 12 races, including a win at Talladega. That victory was Team Penske's first of the 2025 NASCAR season.
Advertisement
Still, given the family ties with Team Penske it raised some speculation about how his father's departure might impact the younger Cindric.
Penske met with all of his NASCAR drivers in person in Charlotte following the moves, including Austin Cindric.
When asked if he was given any assurances from Penske that it will not impact his future with Penske's NASCAR team, Cindric shook his head and said 'I don't think it was even in question.'
'Their support has always been very strong and also very transparent,' Cindric said following qualifying Saturday for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 'When I have not performed to my best we have had those conversations. But past that it's business as usual for me.'
Advertisement
Tim Cindric was one of three executives fired by Penske after two Penske cars were found to be illegal following qualifying runs at the Indianapolis 500. Along with Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer were also terminated.
'Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams,' Penske said in a statement. 'We have had organizational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down.'
Penske owns three IndyCars, IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500. He has won the Indy 500 a record 20 times.
Cindric called this the best start to his career and believes his team has plenty of momentum following the win at Talladega.
Advertisement
Cindric said his father's firing won't impact how he approaches the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
'Professionally, I'm in no different of a place than I was a week ago,' Cindric said. "I feel like we have a lot of momentum on our team right now in the the No. 2 car. I've never felt better and had a better start to the season. So for me I'm just focused on execution. I feel like we have had some really fast cars."
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Connecticut Sun to propose new options to WNBA after league resisted sale that would relocate team to Boston: Report
After the WNBA pushed back on what would have been a record-breaking $325 million sale of the Connecticut Sun to a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, the organization is expected to counter with multiple proposals to the league, according to a Tuesday report from ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne. Pagliuca reportedly intended to buy the Sun and, as early as 2027, relocate the team to Boston, where it has already sold out TD Garden for select games two years in a row. But the W took issue with the potential transaction. The league office stated that the WNBA's board of governors makes relocation decisions, not individual teams. Also, since Boston didn't submit an expansion bid over the past three years, it doesn't have priority over interested cities that have already gone through the expansion process, according to the league, ESPN reported. Per ESPN's report, this frustrated the Mohegan tribe, which has owned the Sun since it purchased the Orlando Miracle after the 2002 season, rebranded the team and moved it to Uncasville, Connecticut. The tribe, according to ESPN sources, believes the W is trying to control how much the team is sold for and where it will be moved, whereas the tribe wants to maximize the franchise's value, just as it would in the sale to Pagliuca's group. After all, a professional women's team has never sold for as much as $325 million before. Prior to that bid being reported on Aug. 2, though, the WNBA offered to purchase the Sun for $250 million and not charge the new buyer an additional relocation fee, per ESPN, which explained that such an arrangement would allow the league to essentially hand the team off to one of its preferred expansion cities. The tribe, the W's first non-NBA owner, would like to keep the Sun in New England. Meanwhile, the WNBA would eventually consider a Boston team in a later round of expansion, per the ESPN report — which includes that the league prefers new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm owning the city's WNBA franchise, too — but Boston has to first submit an expansion bid in that seemingly separate timeline. In the meantime, the Mohegan tribe is proposing sale options to the league that reportedly include a full sale to Pagliuca's group; a sale to a group spearheaded by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, who would move the Sun to Hartford, Connecticut, per ESPN; a sale of only minority stake in the franchise; or a sale to the league but for the record-breaking $325 million.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Connecticut Sun to propose new options to WNBA after league resisted $325 million, Boston-based sale: Report
After the WNBA pushed back on what would have been a record-breaking $325 million sale of the Connecticut Sun to a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, the organization is expected to counter with multiple proposals to the league, according to a Tuesday report from ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne. Pagliuca reportedly intended to buy the Sun and, as early as 2027, relocate the team to Boston, where it has already sold out TD Garden for select games two years in a row. But the W took issue with the potential transaction. The league office stated that the WNBA's board of governors makes relocation decisions, not individual teams. Also, since Boston didn't submit an expansion bid over the past three years, it doesn't have priority over interested cities that have already gone through the expansion process, according to the league, ESPN reported. Per ESPN's report, this frustrated the Mohegan tribe, which has owned the Sun since it purchased the Orlando Miracle after the 2002 season, rebranded the team and moved it to Uncasville, Connecticut. The tribe, according to ESPN sources, believes the W is trying to control how much the team is sold for and where it will be moved, whereas the tribe wants to maximize the franchise's value, just as it would in the sale to Pagliuca's group. After all, a professional women's team has never sold for as much as $325 million before. Prior to that bid being reported on Aug. 2, though, the WNBA offered to purchase the Sun for $250 million and not charge the new buyer an additional relocation fee, per ESPN, which explained that such an arrangement would allow the league to essentially hand the team off to one of its preferred expansion cities. The tribe, the W's first non-NBA owner, would like to keep the Sun in New England. Meanwhile, the WNBA would eventually consider a Boston team in a later round of expansion, per the ESPN report — which includes that the league prefers new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm owning the city's WNBA franchise, too — but Boston has to first submit an expansion bid in that seemingly separate timeline. In the meantime, the Mohegan tribe is proposing sale options to the league that reportedly include a full sale to Pagliuca's group; a sale to a group spearheaded by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, who would move the Sun to Hartford, Connecticut, per ESPN; a sale of only minority stake in the franchise; or a sale to the league but for the record-breaking $325 million.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas Unveils New Driver's Licenses With Advanced Security Features
Starting August 18, Texas drivers began receiving new licenses featuring upgraded security measures. The Department of Public Safety announced that the change will affect all driver's licenses and identification cards to be issued. The redesign comes as states nationwide work to combat identity theft and counterfeit documents. Previously issued cards remain valid until their expiration dates. 'The way driver licenses are made can make a big difference in terms of public safety,' said DPS Driver License Division Chief Sheri Gipson. 'This new card design will make it even more difficult for criminals to produce counterfeit cards, and it enhances ways we can protect Texans' identities from being stolen.' The updated licenses feature tamper-resistant polycarbonate material that meets American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators standards. A black laser-engraved star replaces the previous gold star to indicate REAL ID compliance. Personal information has been reorganized for easier verification by law enforcement and businesses. The new layout aims to make identification details more straightforward at a glance. Solve the daily Crossword
