Ganassi’s 18th Gear: How CGR surpassed Team Penske to become American sports’ ultimate dynasty

INDIANAPOLIS -- 18 in 37.

That’s how many championships Chip Ganassi Racing has won since it launched in 1990.

The record-breaking 18th title came last weekend at the Milwaukee Mile, where Alex Palou wrapped up his fourth consecutive championship and fifth overall in just six years. It was the crown that finally broke the historic tie CGR held with Team Penske. 

The New England Patriots and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls each won six championships during the Ganassi era. The New York Yankees won five World Series. Ganassi won 18 INDYCAR titles. 

But the most impressive statistic is the modern win rate: CGR has won 11 of the 19 awarded titles since the open-wheel reunification in 2008. Over that 19-season stretch, the powerhouse organization has claimed a staggering 57.9% of every available championship.

The numbers mean Chip Ganassi isn’t merely the winningest championship owner in NTT INDYCAR Series history: since starting his team, his 18 championships outnumber the titles won by every individual NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL franchise — as well as every NASCAR Cup Series organization — over the same span.

Even America’s most recognizable modern dynasties don’t come particularly close.

• The Boston Celtics under Red Auerbach's total tenure don't have 18 titles.

• The Los Angeles Lakers under Jerry Buss don't have 18 titles.

• The New England Patriots under Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick don't have 18 titles.

• Hendrick Motorsports and Rick Hendrick don't have 18 titles.

And Team Penske? The Captain’s organization is sitting on 17 INDYCAR titles, looking to answer back next season.

“I passed my pal Roger, but the fact of the matter is I wouldn't be here without him,” Ganassi said of surpassing Penske in INDYCAR. “If it wasn't for Roger setting the bar, there wouldn't be a bar to exceed or to shoot for. I want to thank him for doing what he's done for INDYCAR racing for so many years, making it possible for someone like our team to come along and win 18 championships. My hat's off to him. I know he's not going to sit idly by being in second place now in championships.”

Ganassi’s 18 INDYCAR championships put his sustained success in extraordinary company across American sports.

Phil Jackson, the winningest coach in NBA history, won 11 championships between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Scotty Bowman won an NHL-record nine Stanley Cups as a coach. 

Rick Hendrick’s NASCAR powerhouse has won 14 Cup Series championships. 

Even George Steinbrenner only presided over seven World Series titles as owner of the New York Yankees.

Ganassi’s organization has surpassed all of the greats across major American professional sports franchises over the last three decades and has no intention of letting up anytime soon.

“Alex, he's got a lot left in the tank. Stand by for more fun,” said Ganassi. “It's one team. We all work together. We're all trying to win. It's an open book with us all the time across the board with all the drivers, all the teams. The nice thing is, everybody on the team's happy when someone on the team does well. That's a big thing. And I can tell you, the great thing about this team is we're going to have a little bit of fun at Laguna Seca, get a little vacation time after that. But they'll be right back at it wanting to do it again next year.”

The INDYCAR season concludes Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with race coverage on Fox Sports scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.