Penske PC-6

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 won the 1979 Indianapolis 500, being driven by Rick Mears.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Penske PC-6

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
Length	3810mm (150in) without wing/drivetrain
Width	2032mm (80in)
Height	1016mm (40in) without wing, at roll hoop
Axle track	Front track 1,549mm (61in) Rear track 1,575mm (62in)
Wheelbase	2,692mm (106in)
Engine	Cosworth DFX 2,650 cc (161.7 cu in) V8 80° 76.2mm (3in) Garret AiResearch Turbocharged Mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Hewland L.G.500[1] 4 speed with reverse gear removed manual
Power	800–1,000 hp (600–750 kW)
Weight	1,603 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 event	Duman's Turn 4 Restorations Indy (known)
Entries Races Wins 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 3 1

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. 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. Other drivers would later try out the car, like Dennis Firestone, albeit without much success. From this point on not much is known about the PC-6. It may not have raced at all until more recent recreational races.

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 milestone of automotive racing. While laps crossing 200 miles per hour had been achieved at the speedway, none had been done on a hot track, though many had tried. 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.

Photo Gallery

A turbocharger from the 1978 Penske PC-6 Chassis #5 during restoration

A shock from the 1978 Penske PC-6 Chassis #5