The opportunity to add one of the best drivers in the series was the only impetus Penske needed to go after Simon Pagenaud.

“This is a business where you have to be looking ahead,” said Tim Cindric, Team Penske president, during a conference call Monday after it was confirmed Pagenaud would be the fourth driver in Roger Penske’s IndyCar armada of Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Juan Montoya. Simon had been in the back of my mind all season long because I knew his series obligations and, fortunately, we have an owner committed to winning and opportunity.”

Team owner Roger Penske, who now has the four of the top five drivers in the 2014 standings, said sponsorship was never a factor.

“You’ve got to make the move when you’ve got the opportunity and I feel really good about what we’ve got,” said Penske. “Simon has certainly performed well and I think we’re in good shape for the future.”

As first reported Sept. 16 on RACER.com, this is Pagenaud’s big break and a shift in the power of the Verizon IndyCar Series since the 30-year-old Frenchman won four times during the past two years for the small Schmidt Peterson Motorsport team.

“It’s a very special day in my career, the next step in my career and perfect timing,” he said. “I’ve always admired ‘The Penske Way’ and it’s an honor to be part of Team Penske. As a driver you always hope you will get the best opportunity and the decision was pretty easy for me.”

Even though Pagenaud had a deep connection with Honda and SPM, the chance to drive for the Chevrolet-powered Penske was impossible to resist.

“I can’t thank Honda enough for everything they helped me achieve in sports cars and Indy cars and I’ll always appreciate the opportunity that Sam gave me,” he continued. But I don’t know of any driver who would turn down the opportunity from Roger Penske.”

Team Penske finished 1-2-4 in the 2014 championship with Power edging Castroneves, and Montoya making a strong comeback to open-wheel racing. The addition of Pagenaud gives Chevrolet the double-barreled quartet of Chip Ganassi Racing and Penske.

It will be the first time The Captain has ever fielded four cars in his 46 years of Indy car competition but Cindric said sponsorship was secondary to securing Pagenaud.

“We have potential beyond our existing sponsorships and more time available to raise those budgets and it’s a challenge but we’re willing to take that chance. We took notice of Simon’s competitiveness back when he was driving for Gil [de Ferran] in ALMS and this is the first opportunity we’ve had to bring him on board.”

Driving No. 22 next year, Pagenaud now will be paired with his on-track nemesis of this past season.

“We had our contacts on track but Will is the champion and a tremendous driver and we were good teammates in Champ Car [in 2007] so it’s our job to make it work,” Pagenaud said. “I don’t see any problem or reason it won’t work.”

Asked if he’d spoken with Power, Pagenaud replied: “Not yet but we’ve got a Verizon event tomorrow so it should be interesting.”