INDIANAPOLIS -- Indy has changed a lot over the last 30-something years: the cars, the drivers, the very look of the speedway.

Then there's Roger Penske.

The Captain is numbingly consistent. Buy the best equipment. Hire the most skilled people. Win the race.

Penske claimed the 13th Indianapolis 500 victory of his remarkable career Sunday, finishing 1-2 as Gil de Ferran held off two-time defending champion Helio Castroneves.

No one has been to Victory Lane as often as Penske. He could probably claim it as a second home.

"If there's anyone who knows how to win around here," said Michael Andretti, with plenty of envy in his voice, "it's him."

Penske made his Indy debut in 1969 and captured his first victory three years later with the late Mark Donohue at the wheel. Since then, eight more of his drivers have taken the checkered flag.

Rick Mears (four times) and Castroneves (twice) are the only multiple winners in the Penske stable, a testament to the team's consistent excellence. Bobby and Al Unser won for Penske. So did Al Unser Jr.

Beyond that, Penske changed the look of the sport. He put his crew members in white coveralls, ordered them to get crewcuts and had them sweep the garage floor several times a day.

He drew sneers from old-timers such as A.J. Foyt, but everyone soon fell into line. All in all, Penske brought professionalism -- even a bit of civility -- to a rough-and-tumble sport.

"I have a good business, and a lot of great people," he said. "That is the whole thing. We are a team. Not just the people out there. If Gil won or Helio won today, everyone in the whole organization won. That is what counts."

Penske gave everyone else a chance when he stayed away for five years after the CART-IRL split. Since returning in 2001, the Captain has reclaimed his crown.

Castroneves and de Ferran took the top two spots two years ago. Castroneves made it two in a row last year. On Sunday, the two Brazilians ran up front again.

At dinner a few days before the race, Penske was about as effusive as his businesslike personality will allow. In retrospect, it was obvious he sensed another victory in the works.

"I spent a lot more time here this month than I ever did," Penske said. "I wanted to make sure Gil was all right (after a serious crash in March) and I knew there would be so much attention on Helio."

That extra attention paid off. Castroneves led a total of 58 laps, while de Ferran set the pace on the last 31 trips around the 2{-mile oval.

At the end, Penske stepped out of the picture and let his drivers decide their fate.

"There's no team orders at Penske Racing," the car owner said. "The fastest car wins."

No matter who's driving, the fastest car at Indy usually has Penske on the side.