Simon Pagenaud, of France, rear, is hugged by Alexander Rossi, who finished second, after winning the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Roger Penske celebrated his 50th anniversary in the Indianapolis 500 with his 18th victory.

Along for the ride was sponsor John Menard, like Penske celebrating nearly a lifetime of annual trips to the fabled race. Unlike his old friend, he has had little success in the one event everyone wants to win.

Menard finally reached victory lane Sunday with Penske and Simon Pagenaud, their car sponsored by his Midwest-based home improvement chain. Pagenaud held off Alexander Rossi in a frantic shootout that included five swaps of the lead in the final 13 laps.

Menard was breathless watching the action and overwhelmed when it was over.

"You ever watch that movie called 'The Candidate,' when that guy works and works and works and finally gets elected?" Menard asked. "After the election, he won, and he gazed into the mirror and says, 'What the hell do I do now?' That's the way I feel. We'll go try to win another one."

Menard was serious. He hopped on a plane and headed to Charlotte Motor Speedway to watch his son, Paul, race in NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600. He sponsors his son's car, and that actually got the elder Menard his first Indianapolis Motor Speedway victory when Paul won the Brickyard 400 in 2011.