Roger Penske, Bruce Flanders earn spot in Walk of Fame

Roger Penske accepts his induction

It would seem Roger Penske and Bruce Flanders have little in common other than their undying love for motor sports.

Penske has had a team in nearly every form of motor racing. The team is celebrating its 50th season. Penske’s team has 178 IndyCar victories, more than any other team in the series. His IndyCar team has won five of the 41 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach races. Flanders has never owned an IndyCar team, although he once raced motorcycles. He is an announcer.

But from now on, they will have more than Flanders’ announcing Penske victories in common. On Wednesday they became the 24th and 25th members of the Walk of Fame. Their plaques were unveiled along Pine Avenue in front of the Convention Center.

"To me this is a real honor," Penske said. "I’m glad they finally got down to the ‘P’s so I could be here."

Flanders, who has worked the last 38 races at Long Beach and still announces at Irwindale and Industry speedways, got the biggest cheers from the 100-plus in attendance. The first time he said he announced at a Long Beach event was at the Lions Drag Strip, long before races were held in downtown Long Beach. The San Bernardino resident has called nearly every form of motor racing.

"I did announcer math and over the years I’ve talked to 5 million people," he said of his stint at Long Beach. "That’s a lot. I’m proud to be inducted into the Walk of Fame."

Chris Pook, who founded the Grand Prix Association, and Brian Redman, who won the first race at Long Beach, a Formula 5000 race in 1975, were present. Both were inducted in 2007. It was the 11th induction ceremony. Daily News