Penske PC-6

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Penske PC-6
Indy500winningcar1979.JPG
Category USAC/CART IndyCar
Constructor Penske
Designer(s) Geoff Ferris
Predecessor Penske PC-5
Successor Penske PC-7
Technical specifications
Chassis Aluminum Monocoque
Suspension (front)Top rocker arms; wide-based lower wishbones; inboard coil spring/damper units with Monroe shocks
Suspension (rear)Parallel lower links; single top links; twin radius rods; outboard coil spring/damper units with Monroe shocks
Axle track Front track 1,549mm (61in)
Rear track 1,575mm (62in)
Wheelbase 2,692mm (106 in)
Engine Cosworth DFX 2,650 cc (161.7 cu in) V8 80° 76.2mm (3in) Garret AiResearch Turbocharger Mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Hewland L.G.500 [1] 4 speed with reverse removed manual
Power800–1,000 hp (600–750 kW)
Weight1,603 lb (727.1 kg)
Fuel Methanol, supplied by Mobil
Tires Goodyear Eagle Speedway Specials - Rear 27.0x14.5-15 - Front 25.5x10.0-15
Competition history
Notable entrants Penske Racing
Notable drivers Rick Mears
Tom Sneva
Mario Andretti
Debut 1978 Indianapolis 500
First win 1979 Indianapolis 500
Last win 1979 Indianapolis 500
Last eventDuman's Turn 4 Restorations Indy (known)
EntriesRacesWins Podiums
1978 Indianapolis 500 1979 Indianapolis 500 1980 Indianapolis 500 DT4R Indianapolis (known)3 (known) 1978 Indianapolis 500 1979 Indianapolis 500 1980 Indianapolis 500 1 (known) 1979 Indianapolis 500 1978 Indianapolis 500 1979 Indianapolis 500 (known)
Poles F/Laps
31

The Penske PC-6 is a USAC and CART open-wheel race car, designed by British designer Geoff Ferris at Penske Racing, which was constructed for competition in the 1978 season. It also notably successfully won the 1979 Indianapolis 500, being driven by Rick Mears. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Contents

Background

The Penske PC-6 was introduced to racing in 1978 at the 62nd Indianapolis 500, driven by Tom Sneva, Rick Mears, Mario Andretti, and Larry Dickson. Other drivers would later try out the car, like Dennis Firestone. It would place 2nd, later going on to achieve 1st place at the 1979 Indy 500 with Rick Mears behind the wheel, cementing his Gould Charge #9 livery as one of the most famed on the PC-6.

Notable Achievements

Tom Sneva made history in his Penske PC-6 qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1978, setting a record four-lap average speed of over 200 miles per hour that became- and still is- a famous benchmark of automotive racing. Sneva also set the record for the first official lap crossing 200 miles per hour at the Indy 500 just one year prior, albeit in a McLaren M24 owned by Roger Penske. Though, both the M24 and PC-6 shared the same turbocharged Ford Cosworth engine, the DFX.

A turbocharger from the 1978 Penske PC-6 Chassis #5 during restoration 1978 Penske PC-6 Turbocharger.png
A turbocharger from the 1978 Penske PC-6 Chassis #5 during restoration
A shock from the 1987 Penske PC-6 Chassis #5 1987 Penske PC-6 Monroe Shock.png
A shock from the 1987 Penske PC-6 Chassis #5

References

  1. ↑ "Hewland L.G.500 (4-Speed) and L.G.600 (5-Speed) Transaxle Gearbox" (PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Team Penske | About Us | Team Penske - Year by Year Highlights". www.teampenske.com.
  3. ↑ "Penske Car Gallery | Penske Automall" . Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Rick Mears". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
  5. ↑ "The Penske PC6 1978 Indy 500 Polewinner". www.linkedin.com.
  6. ↑ "Tom Sneva". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
  7. ↑ "1978 Penske PC6". conceptcarz.com.
  8. ↑ "1979 Indianapolis 500 | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine.
  9. ↑ Brown, Allen. "Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 27 May 1979 « Indy Car". OldRacingCars.com.
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