Simon Pagenaud presented with tropy and one million dollars

2016 IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud has been officially presented with the Astor Cup in Indianapolis.

The Frenchman received the trophy at a ceremony at Hilbert Circle Theatre on Indianapolis' Monument Circle. He was also presented with a cheque for $1 million by  Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Pagenaud too five wins and seven pole positions on his way to securing his first IndyCar title and Team Penske's second championship in three years.

"It's obviously a milestone in my career, my lifetime dream come true," said Pagenaud, who just completed his sixth full time season and seventh overall racing Indy cars. "There's obviously more in the future, other goals to reach, but I've reached one of the biggest ones I wanted."

"Obviously Team Penske is one of the most historic race teams in the world," he added. "I'm so proud to be part of this team, so proud that I could bring this championship to Roger. The 50-year anniversary is huge and this is going to go into history. I'm very glad that I could leave a little bit of my legacy, but I'm a very small part in a very big thing."