Penske
Team Penske is a racing team that currently operates teams in the Indy Racing League and NASCAR. It formerly operated a team in CART.
Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 a record 13 times as of 2003.
It is named for its principle owner and founder, Roger Penske, and is part of the Penske Corporation.
In 1971 Roger Penske bought a used 512 M chassis that was totally dismantled and rebuilt. The car was specially tuned for long races receiving many unique features, among them were a large rear wing and an aviation inspired quick refueling system. The engine was tuned by Can-Am V8 specialist Traco, this engine was probably able to deliver more than 600 hp (450 kW). As of today it's impossible to know to what extend Penske's initiative was backed by Ferrari works. This 512 M, painted in a blue and yellow livery, was sponsored by Sunoco and the Californian Ferrari dealer Kirk F. White. This car made the pole position for the 24 hours of Daytona and finished second despite an accident. For the 12 hours of Sebring the "Sunoco" made the pole but finished the race at the sixth position after making contact with Pedro Rodrigez's 917. Despite this misfortune the car had proved to be a serious opponent for the 917. Not only this car was the fastest on track in Daytona and Sebring but it was also the car that had the shortest refueling time.
The presence of the 512 M "Sunoco" forced Porsche to pursue his effort of research and development on the 917.
Later Penske ran Porsche 917 in Canam.
Penske was a Formula One constructor from 1974 through 1977
| Year | Team | Driver | # of GPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Penske-Ford | Mark Donohue | 2 |
| 1975 | Penske-Ford | Mark Donohue | 9 |
| 1975 | Penske-Ford | John Watson | 1 |
| 1976 | Penske-Ford | John Watson | 16 |
| 1976 | Penske-Ford | Boy Hayje | 1 |
| 1977 | Penske-Ford | Jean Pierre Jarier | 11 |
| 1977 | Penske-Ford | Hans Binder | 3 |
| 1977 | Penske-Ford | Danny Ongais | 2 |
| 1977 | Penske-Ford | Hans Heyer | 1 |